Putnamville offenders charged in officer’s beating

PUTNAMVILLE — Four offenders housed at Putnamville Correctional Facility are facing Level 5 felony charges in the Sept. 8 beating of a correctional officer.

Correctional Officer Marquell Hilliard was beaten seriously enough to need treatment at Union Hospital in Terre Haute. He was released shortly after treatment.

Facing the Level 5 felony charge of battery with bodily injury to a public safety officer are:

• Daryl Gifford, 31, convicted out of LaPorte County;

• James Bryant, 32, Marion County;

• Sabastain Carter, 26, Scott County; and

• Joshua Powell, 32, Tippecanoe County.

According to the investigation by Correctional Police Officer Rob Evans, Hilliard approached Gifford shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Hilliard smelled smoke coming from Gifford’s area so the officer conducted a search of the offender.

While conducting the search, Hilliard spilled a cup of water on the floor by Gifford’s bed. Evans said the video showed Gifford was visibly upset by this.

At this point, the two men exchanged words, with Gifford raising his shoulders and arms as if he was going to strike the officer. Hilliard also raised his arms in a defensive stance.

In a subsequent interview with Evans, Gifford said the officer had been “up in my face” and that the bill of his hat had been in Gifford’s chest. (Gifford is six feet, seven inches tall.)

The altercation then got physical, with Gifford shoving Hilliard and the officer shoving back. Hilliard tried to gain compliance by applying handcuffs, but the two men ended up wrestling, with Hilliard ineffectively using a palm heel strike to control Gifford.

At this point, Evans reported, Bryant also entered melee and began hitting Hilliard in the head, 24 times by the investigator’s count.

Powell and Carter then also entered the fray, allegedly hitting Hilliard in the face and head.

At this point, Evans wrote, Bryant pulled Hilliard away from the others and they landed on a nearby bunk. Bryant then allegedly mounted Hilliard and began punching him in the head as he was defenseless on the bunk.

Gifford then walked up to Hilliard and reportedly punched him in the head.

Injured and bleeding, Hilliard was able to call for assistance. He then pulled his chemical agent and caused the offenders to flee the area.

The four offenders were identified and placed in restrictive housing.

Interviewed by Evans later in the evening, Gifford denied smoking anything, but admitted to saying something about the spilled water as well as pushing the officer. Otherwise, Gifford said he did not remember what happened.

However, another inmate, who admitted to being high on “Katie,” which is chemically altered paper, said Gifford had also been smoking the substance.

Evans believes all four men had smoked the substance prior to the altercation.

A Level 5 felony is punishable by between one and six years in prison. Should they be convicted, the sentence would be added to the end of their current sentences.

Prior to this incident, Gifford’s earliest possible release date was May 2029; Bryant, November 2026; Carter, July 2023; and Powell, July 2023

Charges have been filed against all four men in Putnam Circuit Court.