Video of jail choking incident released

PERKINS TWP. — New details in the case of a former county corrections officer accused of choking an inmate emerged Friday with the release of a police report and video footage of the incident. Former Erie County Sheriff's Sgt. Adam M. Bess, of Sandusky, was indicted in U.S. District Court on one count of deprivation of rights. Bess's indictment asserts that the victim suffered "bodily harm" and, if convicted, he could be sentenced up to 10 years in prison. Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth received a call on Nov. 1, 2021, from a woman who claimed a jail corrections officer had "repeatedly choked" her during her booking the previous day, according to a sheriff's report. The woman claimed she had marks on and pain in her neck. Prior to going to the hospital, a deputy was sent to her residence to take photos of the injuries and obtain an initial statement from the woman. Sigsworth then directed another jail sergeant to review video from the alleged incident, the report states. That sergeant then told Sigsworth that it was "clear to him that (the victim) had been choked by Corrections Sergeant Adam Bess," the report states. Sigsworth then reviewed the footage himself. The victim was in the inmate processing room with a female officer who was trying to take the victim's mugshot, according to the report and a surveillance video reviewed by the Register. The victim became argumentative with the officer and the officer called for assistance and for a restraint chair to be brought to the room. A restraint chair is a chair on wheels that has wrist, ankle and waist straps that prevent combative inmates from punching or kicking staff. Bess and another officer attempted to walk the victim to the restraint chair, but she struggled, the report states, so they picked the victim up and placed her in the chair. While doing so, the victim shouted at officers that she "did not want (her) picture taken," prompting Bess to place his hand around her neck and respond by saying, "I don't give a (expletive.)" Later in the video, the victim can be heard saying, "I can't breathe." At that point, Bess's body is blocking the camera's view of the woman. The report states that Bess violated department policies and assaulted the victim. Photographs of the victim showed "numerous dark red marks on her neck," the report states. Bess resigned from the sheriff's office on Nov. 4, according to the sheriff's report. His attorney, Merle Dech, declined comment when contacted Thursday. Bess has an arraignment in Toledo's U.S. District Court on Aug. 16. The sheriff's office and Toledo FBI were involved in the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys Michael J. Freeman and Tracey B. Tangeman.