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Officer Allegedly Pummels Handcuffed Inmate In Philadelphia Correctional Facility

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Attorneys for a Philadelphia prison inmate says they will file a federal civil rights suit against the city and a correctional officer who allegedly pummeled a handcuffed inmate during an incident which was caught on video at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional facility last month.

A prison spokesperson says an internal investigation has found the officer used excessive force.

Attorney Guy Sciolla says inmate Jonathan Akubu was being escorted through a common area, he was handcuffed, hands behind his back, when he was overpowered and punched repeatedly by correctional officer James Weisback.

According to prison documents, Officer Weisback claimed Akubu threatened and spit in his face, but Sciolla says there's no evidence of that.

Sciolla and co-counsel in this case, Patrick Link, say they will also refer this case to the District Attorney for possible criminal action.

Akubu is in prison charged with a shooting. His attorneys say it was domestic in nature and no one was injured. A source says Akubu has accumulated nearly 20 disciplinary infractions while in custody.

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