CHARLESTON – A former Stevens Correctional Center inmate alleges he was struck, sprayed with pepper spray and caused bodily injury because of excessive force used by correctional officers.
According to a Kanawha Circuit Court filing, Yoshuda Dewall alleges his state and federal constitutional rights were violated by the defendants McDowell County Commission, Sgt. Aaron Cantrell and correctional officers Corey Smith, Nicholas Culberston, Randy Lowe, John Doe and the West Virginia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Dewall alleges that while in custody at the Stevens Correctional Center in May 2018, he was physically abused, including having his testicles squeezed and being "pressure pointed" and dropped to the ground, all while in restraints, by the correctional officer defendants.
"Defendants' conduct was cruel and unusual and resulted in serious physical and mental injury to the plaintiff...," the suit states.
Dewall seeks compensatory and general damages as well as punitive damages and litigation costs. He is represented by Paul Stroebel of Stroebel & Johnson PLLC in Charleston.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles King.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 19-C-874