Video: Florida deputy fights with inmate for nearly 4 minutes during jail brawl

By Dan Sullivan

Source Times in Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance video Thursday that shows a nearly four-minute fight between a deputy and a man being held at the Falkenburg Road Jail.

Court records show that Deputy Nathan Gough suffered a fracture to his left orbital bone and a cut to his left eye during the fight with Raheem Fulton. The deputy was unable to call for help for several minutes as the pair wrestled on the floor of the jail’s open-area dormitory as dozens of other inmates looked on.

The sheriff’s office asked the court to bar media from viewing the video during a court hearing last week, arguing it contained “sensitive” information. However, the judge found that they had not provided a legal basis for not making the recording public.

In a statement accompanying Thursday’s release of the video, the sheriff’s office said that while they prioritize safety and security in their jails, they are “equally committed to maintaining the transparency of our operations.”

The disturbing 10-minute footage, which the agency said was partially redacted for confidentiality and security reasons, was recorded on October 19. It begins with Gough standing behind a desk in his dorm while Fulton, dressed in orange, walks by.

Fulton, 25, has been in jail since June, when Tampa police arrested him on weapons charges and multiple active arrest warrants.

Court records show Gough talked to Fulton about “contraband” in the dorm, but Fulton walked away, sat in a chair and said something vulgar. Gough tried to keep talking, but Fulton didn’t want to go back to his desk.

In the video, Gough approaches Fulton from behind and appears to tell him to get up. As Fulton stands, he grabs both wrists. Fulton then quickly moves away, turns around and punches the deputy in the face.

The pair then engage in a lengthy fight, wrestling and exchanging kicks and punches as objects fall from the deputy’s uniform and duty belt. At one point, Gough was lying on his back with his legs wrapped around Fulton’s head, trying to gain control.

As the fight continues, other men walk by or sit at nearby tables and watch. One of the men approaches the couple and appears to lean down and touch Fulton’s back before stopping and walking away.

According to the arrest report, the witness tried to help the deputy, but someone threatened him with harm if he intervened. After almost four minutes, several other inmates approach and apparently convince Fulton to leave. They then give Gough some of his belongings.

The deputy, with a bloody face, appears to be holding a can of pepper spray as he approaches Fulton again, forcing him to fall just as other deputies arrive.

Gough was taken to Tampa General Hospital and later released.

Fulton faces an additional charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.

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