Public defenders call for investigation after alleged assault at Racine juvenile detention center

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A family is demanding an investigation after they say their teenage son was brutally beaten inside a Racine County's juvenile detention center back in May.

Surveillance and body camera footage from May 27 show security workers beating and restraining then-15-year-old Anthony Elliot Jr. at the Jonathan Delagrave Youth Development and Care Center, according to the state public defender's office. Elliot's mom, Kianna Reed, says she received a call that Elliot had been involved in an altercation and staff had to use excessive force. 

"They said everything’s fine. He said my son was okay and didn’t get hurt," said Reed. “Lied to my face.”

Surveillance and body camera video show four staff members holding Elliot down and repeatedly punching him. First in the face, then the side, and then his back. 

“If I’m trained correctly, I’m supposed to know how to take this child down without harming him, but obviously that wasn’t the case," said Reed.

Records obtained by the office indicate three of the four staff members involved remain employed at the center. One employee was ordered to do eight hours of training. The employee who threw the first punch resigned, pending investigation. 

“For the main person to be allowed and resign and face no consequences? That’s an issue for me," said Reed. 

In a statement sent to CBS 58, the Racine County executive's office said in part, "While a short video of the incident was apparently publicly shared by the youth’s family, staff’s interaction with the youth transpired over several minutes and included the youth clenching his fists and making multiple threats of physical violence to other juveniles and staff."

A spokesperson wrote in the statement, "The primarily involved staff member was immediately placed on administrative leave. He later resigned within three days of the incident."

Reed says she wants to see all four staff members held accountable, and Elliot moved to a group home.

“Where is the justice?" said Reed. 

In their statement, Racine County wrote, "The details of the investigation and relevant video were provided to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of potential criminal charges. After evaluating the evidence, the District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue prosecution."

CBS 58 reached out to the Racine County District Attorney's Office but did not hear back. 

State Public Defender Jennifer Bias called for a full investigation into conditions at the facility. "The people in this video should have never been entrusted with caring for children," Bias said. "Instead of addressing its failure with transparency and accountability, Racine County has sought to sweep this incident under the rug."

The detention center opened May 1, according to the state public defender's office. Records obtained by the office indicate one security worker resigned after the incident, and another was ordered to complete eight hours of training and remains employed.

Reed is seeking an attorney for a civil lawsuit against Racine County, according to the office. She says instead of keeping her son out of harm's way at the center, he was put directly in the middle of it. 

“You will not treat my child as a throwaway, because I’m not," said Reed.