Jail guards have been caught beating a black inmate as his lawyers demand authorities press criminal charges.
Security footage inside the Camden County Jail in Georgia shows the moment Jarrett Hobbs, 41, was surrounded by staff and beaten multiple times in the neck and head.
Harry Daniels, the lawyer for Mr Hobbs who released the disturbing footage, said the jail has refused to confirm whether the guards are suspended or remain on duty.
The lawyer said: "It’s undeniable that Mr. Hobbs was approached by jailers and he was assaulted, punched multiple times in the back of his head, kneed in his head and dragged out of his cell.
"This is a brutal beating, a brutal attack."
Sheriff Jim Proctor has opened an internal investigation into the incident after a public outcry following the distressing scenes.
According to court documents the guards entered Mr Hobbs' prison cell after he was repeatedly kicking the door despite being asked to stop several times.
In the harrowing video Mr Hobbs is seen standing in the cell alone by the door when he picks up two objects which, according to his attorney, were a sandwich and a piece of paper.
The video then shows a guard rushing into the cell and grabbing the inmate by the neck as he tries to push him to the ground.
A further four guards are seen entering the cell as they begin to try and hold Mr Hobbs by his writs but a guard is seen punching the inmate in the back of the head and on his neck.
The guards are then seen joining in and seen hitting him repeatedly.
Mr Hobbs had been in the cell on September 3 after drug and traffic offences but left the custody of the jail on September 30.
His lawyer has slammed Camden County jail for failing to open an investigation sooner as the violent episode happened over two months ago.
Mr Hobbs, from North Carolina, was charged with fighting the guards on the day of the incident.
However, there is also a second shot which showers the guards dragging the inmate through the cell and throwing him against the wall, with the altercation lasting for around one minute.
After the altercation Mr Hobbs was charged with simple assault, aggressive behaviour and obstruction of law enforcement officers.
According to a judge's order on October 20 a probation officer claimed the inmate "'punched one deputy in the face while punching another deputy in the side of the head.
"One deputy sustained a broken hand as a result of the incident."
The probation order for Mr Hobbs was provoked after a federal judge in North Carolina concluded he had violated the terms.
He currently remains in custody in North Carolina.
