4 Men Arrested, Charged in Beating of Inmate in Miami-Dade Jail: Police

The four men police say are responsible for attacking a man in a Miami-Dade jail recently have been arrested and appeared in bond court Friday, authorities said.

Inmates Lance Roberts, 28, Joseph Lee, 21, Dominick Virgil, 21, and Emmanuel Edwards, 19, began punching and kicking Paul Delatour, 43, without provocation on Dec. 6 at about 11 p.m. at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Miami-Dade Police detectives said.

The four men are charged with felony battery, police said. No bond was set for the defendants on Friday, as a public defender said he wants a probable cause hearing for them, so they will need to return to court for that.

Delatour said he ended up in a medically induced coma after the brutal beating inside the jail, which he said took place when he should have been at home.

Delatour posted bond about six hours before police say he was beaten, jail documents show.

He said the jail’s poor processing system delayed his release.

“And at that night and those hours when I was supposed to be home and I was still in jail and this happened,” Delatour said.

Delatour said he is glad that the men have been arrested, but questions why Miami-Dade Corrections put him where violent offenders were located inside the facility.

Delatour, who was being held for allegedly driving with a suspended license and burglarizing an empty home, said his time in the jail came about because of a misunderstanding.

“There was nothing fraudulently about what I did,” he said.

The four inmates beat him while he was waiting to take a shower, Delatour said.

“I was left inside the cell lifeless and when I say lifeless I mean being beaten by four guys – four strangers and I don't even know them,” he said.

Afterward his head injuries were so severe doctors at Kendall Regional Medical Center had to place him in a medically induced coma just to control the swelling inside his brain, Delatour said.

He said he has had an ice pack on his head since being released from intensive care and his holidays will be filled with trips to the doctor.

“They failed to provide me with the security as being their prisoner as well put my life in jeopardy, and now I have injuries that I have to live with the rest of my life,” Delatour said.

Miami-Dade Corrections said the matter is being investigated so it cannot comment.

Meanwhile, Delatour said he is getting closer to taking some legal action over the incident.

Contact Us