LAKE COUNTY, Fla. —  The Florida Department of Corrections is investigating the circumstances behind a video posted on YouTube that appears to show correctional officers beating up an inmate at the Lake County Correctional Institution.

The video runs about five minutes and was posted Saturday. According to the person recording the video, who goes by the username Sir Trap, the alleged incident happened Monday, July 8.  

A person in the video can be heard saying, "They are beating him up over there, man."

The video was apparently shot by an inmate on a contraband cellphone, and the video starts with what appears to be a number of guards on top of an inmate on the ground in a grassy area.

The officers in the video appear to throw a number of punches.

About 4 minutes, 30 seconds into the video, the person on the ground is picked up and escorted away by multiple guards.

The video does not show is how the altercation first began.

The person who uploaded the video is Josh Polulech, who said he served time at the Lake Correctional Institution in the past.

He said he got the video through an email after it was shot by an inmate who recorded the incident on a cell phone.

He said he uploaded the video to create awareness of what happened July 8.

"You can see three or four taking punches, I mean it's a constant 1, 2, 3,4, and it's a bad video, it's a sickening video to see, that you can do that to someone else. Inmate or not, we are humans," Polulech said.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) said Monday that her office has received several phone calls from concerned family members whose loved ones are in the Lake Correctional Facility in Clermont.

"The theme for a lot of these stories has been very similar: experiencing physical abuse, being withheld the correct medication, feeling intimidated to speak out," Eskamani said.

Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Mark Inch said in a released statement that he was upset by what he saw in the video.

"This video is deeply disturbing. We have zero tolerance for officer abuse or misconduct for any reason. The actions of these individuals will not be tolerated. Our Office of Inspector General has launched an immediate investigation. All officers identified to be involved have been taken out of contact with inmates and will not be allowed to return to full duty until a thorough investigation has been completed. Those found participating in any level of abuse, or failing to properly report abuse, will be subject to administrative and criminal charges."

The Department of Corrections said the identities of the guards and inmate involved are confidential while an investigation is active.

"The fact that this is being filmed by a contraband phone raises eyebrows to what is actually happening in our prisons," Eskamani said.

"I think long-term, you've got to make the environment better for people to work in. If you can improve the situation for corrections officers, you will also improve the situation for inmates," Eskamani said. 

WARNING: The nature of the video and language may be disturbing to some viewers