Howard County (Map, News) - The corrections officers accused of using excessive force against an inmate at the former Maryland House of Correction, say they never kicked or stomped the resistant inmate during a July 2006 strip search.

“He definitely was lying,” said Capt. Manuel Williams who supervised the search of inmate Bradford Matthews on July 26, 2006 at the prison chapel.

“No one ever stomped or beat him.”

The five officers are on trial in Anne Arundel Circuit Court before Judge Pamela North facing charges of second-degree assault against Matthews.

The day after Corrections Officer David McGuinn was fatally stabbed on July 25, 2006 at the Jessup facility, officers from several prisons were asked to assist in searching and transporting about 50 of the most problematic inmates.

It was during this procedure that the prosecutor alleges— Manuel Williams, Naron Dyer, Antoine Fordham, Berkeley Ghee and Keith Randolph,— used excessive force against Matthews by punching him in the face, stomping him and dropping him to the ground while his hands were cuffed behind his back.

But three of the officers testified Monday that they used reasonable force to restrain Matthews who refused to leave his cell, swung at an officer, kicked at another officer’s groin and put up a fight during the search.

Ghee testified that Matthews swung at his face and he responded defensively by punching Matthews in the face twice.

He said Matthews then kicked at Williams and reached for something black in the groin area of his pants prompting three officers to force him to the floor.

“Our policy is to take him to the ground because he’s less of a threat than he is standing up,” Ghee said.

“Anytime an inmate is being disruptive and attacking an officer, we have to secure them… nobody did anything unlawful.”

Assistant State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess has alleged that a homemade knife, considered as the murder weapon used to kill McGuinn, was planted on Matthews.

Defense attorney Paul Kramer said, “the government theory that they planted a knife on him to support the use of force… is a bunch of hokum.”

And Capt. Edward Tames testified that he mixed up three knives turned over to him and was unable to identify which one allegedly was found on Matthews. Tames said he was later reprimanded and suspended without pay.

The defense rested its case late Monday evening. The case is expected to conclude today.

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com