Playing ‘Baby Shark’ on repeat officially deemed a form of torture

Two former detention officers at an Oklahoma jail have been accused of subjecting inmates to “inhumane” punishment — by forcing them to listen to the song “Baby Shark” on repeat, authorities said.

An investigation found that at least four prisoners at the Oklahoma County jail were made to stand for hours with their hand cuffed behind their backs while the kids bop played on a loop at loud volume last November and December, The Oklahoman reported.

The ex-officers, Gregory Cornell Butler Jr., 21, and Christian Charles Miles, 21, were charged Monday with misdemeanor counts of cruelty to a prisoner and conspiracy.

Miles allegedly confirmed that he and Butler “systematically worked together” and used an attorney visitation room at the jail “as a means to discipline inmates and teach them a lesson,” according to court documents obtained by the newspaper.

“Butler also confirmed that he used the booth as a means of punishment,” an investigator wrote in an affidavit filed in the case. “The playing of the music was said to be a joke between Miles and Butler.”

But the repetitive tune put “undue emotional stress on the inmates who were most likely already suffering from physical stressors,” the investigator wrote.

The pair resigned during an internal investigation, according to the report.

Their since-retired supervisor, 50-year-old Christopher Raymond Hendershott, was also charged for allegedly knowing about the rogue discipline and doing nothing to stop it.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said he would have filed felony charges if that had been an option.

“It was unfortunate that I could not find a felony statute to fit this fact scenario,” Prater said. “I would have preferred filing a felony on this behavior.”

via: https://nypost.com/2020/10/06/playing-baby-shark-on-repeat-officially-deemed-a-form-of-torture/

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