HATTIESBURG -- Testifying in court today, former Harrison County jailer Ryan Teel at first denied ever using excessive force against any inmate at the Harrison County jail. In cross-examination, however, Teel admitted he "inappropriately" assaulted an inmate with pepper spray because the inmate kicked him in the groin. The inmate was cuffed and lying on the floor when the incident occurred.
In testimony regarding the beating of inmate Jessie Lee Williams Jr., who died after his assault, Teel said he was "dazed" when his head slammed against the wall after a struggle began with Williams. Teel said he felt pressure in the area of his Taser holster and believed Williams was trying to remove the Taser and trying to use it against him. He said, "I feared for my life."
Teel returns to the stand for more cross-examination after a late lunch break.
U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. allowed an affidavit signed by Teel to be unsealed and used by the government in cross-examination. Guirola allowed the move in spite of objections by attorneys for Teel and co-defendant Rick Gaston. The affidavit apparently contains incriminating information against the defendant and others.
Teel's attorney Jim Davis said that Teel had not yet testified about any information in the affidavit. "He hasn't lied and he's not going to lie," Davis said.
The Sun Herald updates developments throughout the day at sunherald.com.
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