Sebron Hollands, 33, of Clarksville, Tennessee, United States and Javian Griffin, 38, of Nashville, Tennessee are former tactical officers for the strike force of the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Founded in 1923, the agency is based in Nashville.
Hollands was present when Griffin punched an inmate in the head at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee on June 13, 2020, breaking the inmate’s jaw. The inmate neither resisted nor posed a threat justifying the use of force.
But in Griffin and Hollands’ reports, they claimed that the inmate became combative and charged toward Griffin. The tactical officers did not include in their reports that the inmate was punched and injured.
On October 2, 2023, Hollands pleaded guilty to writing a false report. On February 13, 2024, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release.
On October 11, 2023, Griffin pleaded guilty to using excessive force against the inmate. On March 5, 2024, he will be sentenced.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation‘s field office in Memphis, Tennessee. The field office’s special agent in charge Douglas DePodesta stated, “The FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”
CONAN Daily 