A former Hendry County Sheriff’s Deputy, Tyler Williams, is currently facing federal charges for excessive force and falsifying official records. The case against Williams was announced at a news conference held at the federal courthouse in downtown Ft. Myers. If convicted, the 29-year-old could potentially face up to 30 years in prison. The incident in question occurred on July 4th of the previous year when body-worn camera footage captured Williams detaining a suspect in Hendry County. The video shows Williams forcefully slamming the handcuffed man into the ground, causing him to hit his chin on the asphalt and lose consciousness temporarily. Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden expressed shock and dismay upon viewing the footage, emphasizing the violation of trust within the community. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg highlighted that Williams allegedly stood over the motionless man and yelled at him, contradicting Williams’ claim in the incident report that he feared the suspect may have been armed. It is worth noting that Williams had previously served as a Fort Myers Police Officer for seven years before being fired in 2021 following an internal investigation related to a traffic stop that resulted in the death of a toddler. Despite the dismissal of criminal charges in that case, the current allegations against Williams underscore the importance of upholding the responsibilities that come with the power bestowed upon law enforcement officers.
