TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 6, 2023

Newly released video shows correctional officers punching, kicking, pepper spraying and eventually kneeling on the upper back of an inmate who died after attempting to run from a cell last fall. The video was released by the Nashville District Attorney's (DA) office, which was asked to conduct an independent investigation, the Commercial Appeal reports. According to Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Gershun Freeman, 33, “suffered from psychosis and cardiovascular disease and died of a heart attack while being restrained.” He said it is unfortunate that parts of the video “are being shown out of context” because the full video shows Freeman’s “erratic and violent behavior that led to the need to restrain.” Bonner said he will wait for additional information from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Nashville DA's office before taking further administrative action. Freeman was arrested Oct. 1, 2022, after he was accused of attacking, threatening and kidnapping his girlfriend.