Family demands justice after video shows alleged DeSoto County Jail attack

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. —

The family of Darion Hawkins is demanding justice after discovering a video on Facebook showing an alleged attack on Hawkins by a former deputy at a DeSoto County jail, which led to the deputy's arrest and firing.

Darion's sister, Kenajea Davis-Hawkins, expressed her distress, saying, "I was shocked, and I was very hurt and very angry and worried."

The sheriff's office released the video clips earlier this week. The video starts with deputies entering Darion's cell around 1 a.m. on Dec. 13 for a cell change. The interaction with Darion quickly escalates after deputies say he begins to resist. The video shows former Deputy Luis Tovar hitting Hawkins so hard that his body camera fell off, with a security camera capturing the incident.

Sheila Mitchell, Darion's aunt, emphasized the importance of public awareness, stating, "People need to see that this is something that is going on. This is something that is happening inside of these jails. This is how people's loved ones are being treated. So as graphic as it is, just the same way that it hurts them to see it, imagine how it hurts me, his aunt, and how it hurts his sister, how it hurts his mom."

The video then shows Tovar taking Darion down and another deputy holding Hawkins down while Tovar continues to punch him. Tovar also allegedly kicked another inmate in the head. Another deputy said Hawkins continued to resist, leading to his removal from the cell, where Tovar wrestled him to the ground and continued hitting him before restraining him in a chair. Deputies say Hawkins spat on them, and that's when Tovar began to punch him again while he was restrained.

Following the incident, Hawkins was transferred to Graceville Correctional Facility, but his family was not notified. On Dec. 23, Sheriff James Potter addressed the community, saying, "Just keep in mind that this situation should not detract from the hard work of the men and women of the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office."

Hawkins was charged with three counts of battery related to the incident. Mitchell is advocating for accountability, saying, "He's a human being, he is a son, he is my nephew, and he has a family out here that loves him. And we're going to advocate for him. And we're not going to stop until justice is served."

The sheriff's office continues to investigate the incident.

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