Fatal Beating of New York Inmate, Body Cam Video Released by State’s Attorney

Body cam footage of corrections officers brutally beating a restrained inmate — who died hours later — has been released by the New York State Attorney General … showing officers hitting the bloodied man repeatedly.

The video shows Robert Brooks — an inmate serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault — repeatedly being punched and kicked … and, one man appears to gag him with a towel.

Videos released by the attorney general’s office show one officer repeatedly striking Brooks in his midsection with a shoe as other officers hold him down with his arms behind him. At one point, the officers lift Brooks up by his neck … he’s got blood all over his face and he can’t even hold up his own weight.

According to the attorney general’s office, Brooks had a “use of force” encounter with corrections officers on December 9 at Marcy Correctional Facility in Upstate New York. He was transported to Utica’s Wynn Hospital, about 7 miles away, and died in the early morning hours of December 10.

NY State’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III tells TMZ … “Watching the video evidence of Robert Brook’s life being taken left me feeling deeply repulsed and nauseated. There is no excuse and no rationalization for a vulgar, inhumane act that senselessly took a life. This type of behavior cannot be normalized, and I will not allow it to be within DOCCS.”

Martuscello says his department plans to independently investigate this tragedy … promising institutional change. Among the changes already instituted, Martuscello says 13 of the people involved in this incident have been suspended and one resigned.