“They didn’t do what they are trained to do,” Palacios said in an interview with the Variety.
He and his family were elated upon learning that Sgt. Arnold K. Seman and COII Manuel Quitano, both Department of Corrections officers assigned to Correction Emergency Response Team have been arrested.
“We are very thankful the government is taking action,” Palacios said.
Seman and Quitano were arrested on charges of assault and battery and misconduct in public office. Quitano was also charged with obstruction of justice.
Palacios told the Variety he is undergoing referral for weeks since his left ear is “hurting sometimes.”
His mother Jenny Mae wrote letters to the editor and revealed the ordeal of her son at the hands of the corrections officers.
Mrs.Palacios said her son’s face was battered while he was in handcuffs and strapped to a chair.
“The sergeant’s last words to my son were `this prison is mine; I can do whatever I want,” she said.
“His blood [was] dripping from his ears and was left alone for about an hour in the isolation room,” she added.
Robert Palacios was serving a 30-day sentence for assault and battery when the incident happened on June 17.
He was released July 1.
He earlier requested correction officers for his transfer to another cell to avoid a confrontation with the other inmates.
When his request was turned down, he said his fellow cellmates urged him “to make an obscene gesture with his middle finger to an officer” so that he could he transferred to another cell.
After Palacios made the obscene gesture, he was handcuffed and transferred to another cell.
A commotion ensued which resulted in his assault, according to investigators.
It was also discovered that the surveillance camera recordings for June 17 to 23 were missing.
