A now former private security officer who worked at one of the largest immigration detention centers in Texas is accused of assaulting a detained migrant who was already in handcuffs.
Charles Siringi, 66, was charged in federal court last week with deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury in the alleged assault of a detained man at GEO Group-owned Montgomery Processing Center, according to an affidavit obtained by HuffPost.
The Department of Homeland Security agent who wrote the affidavit said that on Mar. 21, Siringi grabbed the victim by the neck and throat before slamming him into a wall and dragging him across the room in an incident witnessed by another officer.
The victim told the agent that Siringi had already handcuffed him prior to the assault and that he was being escorted into a small room, according to the affidavit. Upon entering the room, the victim recalled Siringi saying “you better get him before I do” just before the assault began.
The victim said he tucked his chin down to his chest because he was gasping for air, but Siringi did not remove his hands from his throat, the affidavit read.
