INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A sheriff’s deputy was recently suspended after investigators said he slammed a handcuffed man against a patrol car and lifted his hands above his head at the county jail.
Another deputy who was present during the June 12 incident said Deputy Mark Kantorski told the man, “It’s not going to go like this,” before slamming his head into the vehicle. A third deputy said the handcuffed man was not threatening and Kantorski’s actions were “severe,” reports show.
An internal affairs investigation found Kantorski violated an agency code of conduct – excessive or unnecessary force. Kantorski was suspended for eight hours July 26 and required to undergo four hours of retraining.
The man Kantorski is accused of attacking is 36-year-old Enoch Peters, who is described as homeless.
Kantorski told deputies he pushed Peters because Peters was spitting when he was talking, reports show. Investigators asked Kantorski if Peters was trying to spit on him, and he replied, “Not toward my face,” authorities said.
Peters suffered a cut to his lip, reports show. A surveillance video captured the incident at 1 a.m. June 12 at the Indian River County Jail.
Video provided by Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Daniel Hoffman told investigators he had arrested a man for battery. When Hoffman brought the man, identified as Peters, to the jail, Kantorski and another deputy, Devin Hamilton, went to help Hoffman.
Hoffman said Peters, who was handcuffed from behind, was compliant, reports show. Hoffman told investigators he felt he did not need help bringing Peters to booking.
Peters was removed from the vehicle and faced the patrol car. Kantorski was questioning Peters when Kantorski slammed him into the vehicle, lifted his hands above his head and patted him down, reports show.
“But the fact that Kantorski, his demeanor changed when the guy answered him,” Hamilton told investigators. “I could tell that the guy said something that he did not like.”
Investigators asked Kantorski if he was trained to lift a handcuffed suspect’s hands above their head. He replied, “no,” reports show.
Investigators determined Kantorski use excessive force against Peters. It was unclear if a criminal investigation was conducted against Kantorski.