A former police officer with the Elkhart Police Department, Joshua Titus, 34, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison for his role in assaulting a handcuffed detainee in his custody.

Joshua Titus, 34, will also spend a year on supervised release. His sentencing comes following his co-defendant Cory Newland’s 15-month sentence was handed down late last year.

It was back in 2018 when Newland assisted in the arrest of the detainee and brought him to the booking area at the police department.

The detainee was placed in a chair with his hands handcuffed behind his back, with both arms behind the back of the chair.

While seated in the chair, the detainee spat in the direction of Newland, at which point both Titus and Newland began punching the inmate in the face, causing him to fall backward onto the floor.

Titus and Newland then hunched over the detainee and punched him around 10 more times in the face and body.

Both former officers have admitted they knew at the time of the assault that their use of force was unjustified and unlawful.

“When officers abuse their power by assaulting handcuffed and defenseless arrestees, it erodes the public trust and tarnishes the reputation of police officers everywhere,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one is above the law, and the Justice Department will continue to ensure that officers who violate the rights of individuals in their custody are held accountable.”

“To have effective law enforcement, the public must be confident that the officers will perform their duties consistently, within the boundaries of the constitution and federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “Instead of honoring their duties by protecting and serving the public, these defendants engaged in criminal behavior. When this happens, my office will fulfill our duties by vigorously prosecuting those officers.”

“The majority of law enforcement officers are well-trained professionals who uphold their oath to serve and protect and do so with the utmost integrity. But the few who violate that oath and betray public trust will be held accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert “Alex” Middleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “There is no acceptable level of abuse of power and the FBI will vigorously investigate those officers who violate that oath.”