Former Citronelle police chief Tyler Norris will spend 30 days in jail for federal civil rights violations stemming from an arrest in June 2021 during which he admitted to twice kneeing a handcuffed suspect in the stomach.

U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose ignored recommendations from both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys to place Norris on probation, opting for the prison term, WPMI reported.

Norris was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022 for deprivation of rights under color of law, “which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer,” and witness tampering for allegedly misleading state authorities investigating the incident.

Norris was tried twice on the unreasonable force charge, with both trials ending in hung juries after juries were unable to reach a verdict.

Facing a third trial, Norris instead reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in June, pleading guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law and admitting that he kneed the suspect twice while the suspect was handcuffed and cooperating after surrendering following a high-speed chase through Citronelle.

Norris also intentionally damaged the suspect’s vehicle, according to court documents.

Initially facing a 10-year prison sentence, the plea agreement left him facing a maximum sentence of one year.