A shocking incident of abuse of power has come to light in Pearl, Mississippi, where a police officer, Michael Christian Green, pleaded guilty on Thursday to a federal misdemeanor charge. The charge stemmed from accusations that he forced a prisoner to drink his own urine while in custody.

According to court filings from the US district court for the southern district of Mississippi, prosecutors alleged that Green, a patrol officer at the Pearl police department, ordered a prisoner to lick up his own urine after the man had urinated in the corner of his holding cell. The incident, captured on security cameras, unfolded at the Pearl police department, situated in the town of Pearl, just outside the state capital of Jackson.

Mississippi has been under scrutiny in recent years for its understaffed prisons and substandard living conditions for inmates. In February, the Department of Justice released a damning report highlighting “basic safety failures and … poor living conditions” in three large correctional facilities in the state. Parchman, Mississippi’s penitentiary, particularly gained notoriety for its deplorable conditions, earning a reputation as one of the worst prisons in the US.

Court documents revealed that Green and other officers responded to a family disturbance call on December 23, leading to the arrest of a man identified as “BE.” Following his arrest, BE was placed in a holding cell, where he attempted to communicate with Green about needing to urinate. When BE eventually urinated in a corner of the cell, Green, upon learning of the incident, threatened him and ordered him to lick up the urine.

BE was coerced into complying with Green’s orders, even as he started to gag while licking the urine off the floor. The appalling act was filmed by Green, who continued to taunt and humiliate BE throughout the ordeal.

The victim, BE, later experienced physical distress, repeatedly vomiting after being allowed to leave the holding cell. He was subsequently transferred to a detention center in Brandon, Mississippi.

While court documents did not explicitly mention race, it’s worth noting that Green is white, while the man he arrested is Latino. The incident underscores broader issues of racial bias and abuse within law enforcement agencies.

Green has since lost his job and faces charges of deprivation of civil rights under color of law. At his court appearance, Green calmly pleaded guilty to the charges, signaling acknowledgment of his wrongdoing.

Mayor Jake Windham of Pearl condemned Green’s actions, emphasizing that such brutality against a person in detention is unacceptable. The city initiated an investigation into the incident and confirmed Green’s resignation following the disturbing event.

As Green awaits sentencing in May, the case serves as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and reform within law enforcement to prevent similar abuses of power in the future.