ST PAUL, Minn. — A brutal assault caught on camera led to a criminal conviction but no jail time for a Ramsey County correctional officer.
Nearly three years after being caught on tape beating a prisoner, a Ramsey County correctional officer has resigned and video of the attack has been made public.
In the video of the incident inside the Ramsey Detention Center garage – from April of 2016 – Correctional Officer Travis VanDeWiele can be seen kneeing and punching the prisoner. “You ain’t seen excessive force before” can be heard as the blows land.
VanDeWiele was charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct, and eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to one year of probation but received no jail time.
Last week he submitted his signed resignation to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Bob Fletcher issued a statement that says in part:
“The video also demonstrated failed supervision and poor training. The supervisor present and all employees witnessing these actions had a duty to intervene to stop the assaultive tactics and the use of excessive force.”
Fletcher was not sheriff at the time of the assault.