Inmate Sues After Brutal Knockout by Pima Jail Officer; Charges Filed Against CO

An inmate at the Pima County jail has lodged a lawsuit against Sheriff Chris Nanos and five corrections officers following an alleged assault by one of the officers in August. Joshua Garcia claims he was punched multiple times by Corrections Officer Ayden Escarrega while in the booking area on the evening of August 31, ultimately losing consciousness as a result.

The civil suit, filed last week, details that Escarrega allegedly struck Garcia six times in the face, after which three other officers restrained him in a chair. Escarrega was subsequently arrested four days later, facing aggravated assault charges. He was briefly held in the very jail where he is employed before being released on his own recognizance.

Initially, Escarrega’s charges were dismissed without prejudice as authorities needed additional evidence. However, following further investigation, he is set to be arraigned again on December 17.

The lawsuit asserts that Garcia, 37, intervened on behalf of another inmate in a wheelchair, which led to a confrontation with Escarrega, who is reportedly the brother of the officer involved. Garcia maintains he merely raised his hands in a non-threatening manner, stating he was “passively resisting” when officers attempted to handcuff him.

Contrarily, Escarrega claims that Garcia’s actions were aggressive and that he actively resisted arrest. The altercation resulted in Garcia sustaining significant injuries, including cuts to his forehead and cheek, two black eyes, and broken blood vessels in both eyes. Photographic evidence taken post-incident reveals the extent of his injuries, prompting medical attention.

Garcia had been arrested earlier that day by Tucson police for assault and disorderly conduct, with officers noting troubling behavior that warranted a referral to the Crisis Response Center.

A subsequent evaluation of the use of force indicated that Escarrega’s last four punches were unjustified, leading to recommendations for further training on de-escalation methods. Remarkably, the report noted that no officers reported injuries from the encounter.

Garcia is seeking $300,000, citing battery, false imprisonment, gross negligence in failing to intervene, and other claims involving emotional distress and poor supervisory practices. His attorney, Paul Gattone, commented on the systemic nature of such violence at the Pima County Jail, suggesting that this incident reflects a broader pattern of misconduct by corrections officers.

This isn’t the first time the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has faced scrutiny for its treatment of inmates. In a separate incident in 2022, officers were accused of excessive force leading to the death of an inmate named Wade Welch, although an investigation deemed the use of force “objectively reasonable.”

As of now, neither Sheriff Nanos nor the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has responded to requests for comments related to the ongoing lawsuit.