The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office has begun an administrative review of an incident early Monday morning that resulted in a Stockton man being sent to the hospital with extensive facial injuries he claims came at the hands of correctional officers while in custody at the San Joaquin County Jail.

But while the man, identified as 29-year-old Jacob Servin, claims that he did nothing to precipitate what he claims was a brutal, racially-charged attack, the sheriff’s office issued a clarifying statement on Wednesday that disputes his claims and alleges that he was defiant and combative while being booked for public drunkenness and at one point reached for the equipment of a jail officer.

“Mr. Servin was non-compliant with officers during the initial phase of the booking process,” the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said in a release about the incident. “Due to his refusal to cooperate and comply, he was escorted to a temporary holding cell where he physically assaulted jail staff. Preliminary reports state that Mr. Servin grabbed a female officer, reached for an officer’s equipment, kicked an officer in the chest and tried to bite staff.

“Correctional officers were forced to react to his aggressiveness in order to protect themselves and maintain the safety and security of others in the facility.”

Servin kicked off a firestorm on social media after posting his booking photo and a picture of his facial injuries that he claims came during an attack by multiple staff members who called him derogatory ethnic names during the 20-minute ordeal.

The sheriff’s office acknowledged in the statement that Servin – who was contacted by Stockton Police officers outside of Basil’s Bar and Grill in North Stockton while sitting in a vehicle outside the bar after being contacted by bar staff – arrived at the facility without any visible injuries. They also alleged that Servin’s defiance continued even after he arrived at the hospital for treatment for his injuries, and he refused medical attention.

“After the incident Mr. Servin was taken to a local hospital,” the statement read. “The medical staff informed him of his potential injuries, and he was uncooperative with them and refused medical treatment.

“The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office has begun the Administrative Review Process and it is an active investigation at this time.”

The Sheriff’s Office has not announced whether the area where the incident took place was monitored by closed circuit cameras, or whether that evidence would be released to the public once it has been reviewed by administrators.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.