A New York City correction officer has been charged with beating two inmates at Rikers Island in separate incidents.
Timothy Munroe pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with assault and falsifying records.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson says Munroe punched an inmate in the face and broke his nose as punishment for disruptive behavior on Dec. 12, 2008.
The inmate reported the alleged assault after he was taken to a clinic.
In another incident, Munroe is accused of punching another inmate in the face over an argument on Jan. 24. He was also accused of filing a report with fake details on the incident.
Munroe's attorney didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
He faces four years in prison, if convicted.
Showing posts with label beating inmates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beating inmates. Show all posts
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Police Officers Accused of Assaulting 4 Inmates
South Africa
FOUR Mdantsane residents have accused police of beating them up in an attack last weekend that put one of them in hospital with serious injuries. And the NU1 officers have responded by opening a case of assault against their accusers.
Yesterday Nomava Nonto, Thamsanqa Faku and Bulelani Makeleni were nursing bruises they claimed to have got while being held in the police cells.
One victim , Simbonile Ntongwane, 27, was taken to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital after a fire extinguisher was allegedly slammed into his head by the officers at the station.
Yesterday he was transferred to Frere Hospital to receive stitches to his gums and head.
His mother, Nolakhe Ntongwane, said she couldn’t hold back her tears when she saw him.
“They nearly killed my son,” she said. “He can’t eat; he is in pain; he just can’t do anything.
“He told me that the police said they will kill him to stop the case.”
The other three said they were terrified of the officers who, they claimed, bragged they would dispose of the dockets if any case was opened against them.
The trouble began on Friday when the policemen tried to arrest a group of people playing dice on the street.
The gamblers ran away and at that point Faku, who is Nonto’s brother, was stopped by the officers and questioned as he apparently passed by.
Nonto alleged that the police grabbed Faku and when she stopped them, they pulled out a gun and hit her with it.
In an ensuing melee, the two police officers allegedly pulled out another firearm and arrested Ntongwane and Makeleni, who were on the scene.
Nonto said they were then forced into the back of the police vehicle at gun point and taken to the cells, where the assaults allegedly continued.
Children at the scene captured footage of the incident but none of the cellphone clips showed any assaults taking place, although one officer can be seen with a firearm.
Mdantsane police spokesperson Leon Fortune said he could confirm that an officer was assaulted last week.
“We don’t know about the alleged assault in the holding cells,” said Fortune.
“Anyone who was assaulted must come to the police station to open up a case.”
The three making the allegations against the police appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of assault and are scheduled to appear again on November 6.
FOUR Mdantsane residents have accused police of beating them up in an attack last weekend that put one of them in hospital with serious injuries. And the NU1 officers have responded by opening a case of assault against their accusers.
Yesterday Nomava Nonto, Thamsanqa Faku and Bulelani Makeleni were nursing bruises they claimed to have got while being held in the police cells.
One victim , Simbonile Ntongwane, 27, was taken to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital after a fire extinguisher was allegedly slammed into his head by the officers at the station.
Yesterday he was transferred to Frere Hospital to receive stitches to his gums and head.
His mother, Nolakhe Ntongwane, said she couldn’t hold back her tears when she saw him.
“They nearly killed my son,” she said. “He can’t eat; he is in pain; he just can’t do anything.
“He told me that the police said they will kill him to stop the case.”
The other three said they were terrified of the officers who, they claimed, bragged they would dispose of the dockets if any case was opened against them.
The trouble began on Friday when the policemen tried to arrest a group of people playing dice on the street.
The gamblers ran away and at that point Faku, who is Nonto’s brother, was stopped by the officers and questioned as he apparently passed by.
Nonto alleged that the police grabbed Faku and when she stopped them, they pulled out a gun and hit her with it.
In an ensuing melee, the two police officers allegedly pulled out another firearm and arrested Ntongwane and Makeleni, who were on the scene.
Nonto said they were then forced into the back of the police vehicle at gun point and taken to the cells, where the assaults allegedly continued.
Children at the scene captured footage of the incident but none of the cellphone clips showed any assaults taking place, although one officer can be seen with a firearm.
Mdantsane police spokesperson Leon Fortune said he could confirm that an officer was assaulted last week.
“We don’t know about the alleged assault in the holding cells,” said Fortune.
“Anyone who was assaulted must come to the police station to open up a case.”
The three making the allegations against the police appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of assault and are scheduled to appear again on November 6.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Officer Charged with Assaulting Inmate
SPRINGFIELD
A Springfield police officer lost his job and is charged with assault for the way that he handled an arrested man at the Greene County jail on May 29. Investigators and the police chief think Officer Morris Taylor used excessive force against an inmate whom he was booking into jail.
Police Chief Lynn Rowe fired Taylor on July 11. Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore charged him with third-degree assault on Thursday.
"I can understand the officer being upset because booking took longer than usual, because this guy lied to him originally about who he was and the booking had to be done again, but that is no excuse to go around hitting on people," said Moore.
Before being fired, Taylor had been with the department for 11 years.
"No law enforcement officer, especially anyone with any experience, should look at this and say this is okay," said Moore.
Rowe agrees.
"By policy and law, officers use force necessary to overcome force being presented. That's very clear but we also ask: don't go beyond what's necessary to overcome that force,” said Rowe.
Rowe says Taylor crossed the line in how he treated the inmate.
According to a detective’s probable cause statement filed in court with the charge, jail employees say they saw Taylor hit inmate John Sedersten with a closed fist, use his knee to strike Sedersten in the side, knocked the inmate to the floor, hitting Sedersten’s head on the floor, and then “had his knee on the side of Sedersten’s face/head and then struck him on the right side of his face/head after he (Sedersten) responded to several questions.”
The prosecutor says this was all caught on tape.
"Most of the jail staff was just horrified,” said Moore.
In the probable cause statement, there are witness accounts from four jail employees but none of them stepped in.
"One of my concerns is why would an officer ask for a special cell to take someone. If that is granted, then why, in the middle of the beating, why isn't there immediate intervention?" Moore asks.
Related to that, Moore says he recommended the sheriff take a look at one jailer's behavior, adding it wasn't criminal but it was questionable.
Sheriff Jack Merritt refused to comment.
Taylor is scheduled to be in court in a couple months.
When asked why the officer was fired before he went through the court process, Rowe said he looked at the video of the incident, thought it was unnecessary force, and fired him. Now, he says, the burden of proof for the criminal side lies with the prosecutor.
A Springfield police officer lost his job and is charged with assault for the way that he handled an arrested man at the Greene County jail on May 29. Investigators and the police chief think Officer Morris Taylor used excessive force against an inmate whom he was booking into jail.
Police Chief Lynn Rowe fired Taylor on July 11. Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore charged him with third-degree assault on Thursday.
"I can understand the officer being upset because booking took longer than usual, because this guy lied to him originally about who he was and the booking had to be done again, but that is no excuse to go around hitting on people," said Moore.
Before being fired, Taylor had been with the department for 11 years.
"No law enforcement officer, especially anyone with any experience, should look at this and say this is okay," said Moore.
Rowe agrees.
"By policy and law, officers use force necessary to overcome force being presented. That's very clear but we also ask: don't go beyond what's necessary to overcome that force,” said Rowe.
Rowe says Taylor crossed the line in how he treated the inmate.
According to a detective’s probable cause statement filed in court with the charge, jail employees say they saw Taylor hit inmate John Sedersten with a closed fist, use his knee to strike Sedersten in the side, knocked the inmate to the floor, hitting Sedersten’s head on the floor, and then “had his knee on the side of Sedersten’s face/head and then struck him on the right side of his face/head after he (Sedersten) responded to several questions.”
The prosecutor says this was all caught on tape.
"Most of the jail staff was just horrified,” said Moore.
In the probable cause statement, there are witness accounts from four jail employees but none of them stepped in.
"One of my concerns is why would an officer ask for a special cell to take someone. If that is granted, then why, in the middle of the beating, why isn't there immediate intervention?" Moore asks.
Related to that, Moore says he recommended the sheriff take a look at one jailer's behavior, adding it wasn't criminal but it was questionable.
Sheriff Jack Merritt refused to comment.
Taylor is scheduled to be in court in a couple months.
When asked why the officer was fired before he went through the court process, Rowe said he looked at the video of the incident, thought it was unnecessary force, and fired him. Now, he says, the burden of proof for the criminal side lies with the prosecutor.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Officer Accused of Beating Suspect
Harrisburg,PA
A Harrisburg police officer is off the street and relieved of duty after he is accused of beating up a suspect.
It all started with a traffic stop and DUI arrest back in May, but while waiting to see the judge the suspect says as many as three officers attacked him.
Now the judge who spotted the injuries is speaking out.
“When he was brought in it was rather noticeable he had severe injuries to his face,” says District Judge Joseph Solomon, Dauphin County.
Ryan Westover stood before District Judge Joseph Solomon the night of May 18th with crusted blood on his face and clothes, marks on his neck and a swollen nose and lips. Westover claims the injures happened at the hands of Harrisburg City Police. Images were made public after Westover’s attorney provided them to The Patriot News.
It was at Forster and Front Streets that city police stopped Westover for running a red light. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, aggravated harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge Solomon set his bail, but it wasn't until later, after closely reviewing Westover’s file, that he realized the suspect’s injuries didn't match the report. "I saw no mention of an auto accident and became inquisitive as to how somebody would sustain this level of injury," says Solomon. "I then went over to the booking room and asked Mr. Westover if he had been involved in an auto accident to which he responded, ‘I did not look like this when I came in and I did not have any blood on my clothes when I came in.’"
According to Westover’s attorney, when his client was waiting to see the judge, police entered the cell. Westover stood and one of the officers punched him in the face. He fell to the ground and was punched, kicked, chocked and stomped by as many as three officers.
"Obviously I'm concerned. I don't know what led up to the incident in the cell or booking room but obviously it makes the entire Harrisburg police look bad because of the actions of one or two people," adds Solomon.
Westover identified officer Justin Wells as one of several officers that he says beat him that night.
The mayor's office released a statement Wednesday. It says in part:
“The Harrisburg Bureau of Police's internal affairs unit is currently investigating allegations of abuse by a police officer against Ryan Westover. The officer has been temporarily relieved of his duties during the investigation period, which is standard protocol for any such allegation.”
Westover's attorney said his primary concern was to get Officer Wells off the streets. He says there has been no indication by the mayor's office or Harrisburg City Police as to who those other officers are.
Accused Jail Officers Plead Not Guilty
Four Fayette County Detention Center officers and one former officer pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday to charges they beat inmates and conspired to cover it up.
The FBI and the U.S. Justice Department have been investigating the jail at least since September 2006, when federal officers executed a search warrant at the jail.
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, who was elected after the investigation began, says the city has taken measures to provide a safe facility for employees and inmates. He says the employees with be suspended with pay, pending further investigation.
Indicted were Sgt. John McQueen, Cpl. Clarence McCoy, former Cpl. Scott Tyree, Sgt. Anthony Estep and Lt. Kristine Lafoe. Tyree no longer works at the jail, but the mayor's office says he will be suspended with pay from his job at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The indictment alleges the five conspired to assault inmates without justification and to cover it up by filing false reports and charges.
The FBI and the U.S. Justice Department have been investigating the jail at least since September 2006, when federal officers executed a search warrant at the jail.
Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, who was elected after the investigation began, says the city has taken measures to provide a safe facility for employees and inmates. He says the employees with be suspended with pay, pending further investigation.
Indicted were Sgt. John McQueen, Cpl. Clarence McCoy, former Cpl. Scott Tyree, Sgt. Anthony Estep and Lt. Kristine Lafoe. Tyree no longer works at the jail, but the mayor's office says he will be suspended with pay from his job at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The indictment alleges the five conspired to assault inmates without justification and to cover it up by filing false reports and charges.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Corrections Officer Accused of Assaulting Inmate
OMAHA, Neb.
A Douglas County corrections officer has been cited for assault after being accused of attacking an inmate at the county jail.
The inmate, 23-year-old Michael Farrar, says he was in jail June 11 on suspicion of driving under the influence. He says the corrections officer beat him up as he was walking toward his cell.
Jail officials and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirm that the guard, Eric Fleming, was cited on suspicion of third-degree assault. He is on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation.
Two other officers who witnessed the incident were also placed on paid leave but have not been cited.
A Douglas County corrections officer has been cited for assault after being accused of attacking an inmate at the county jail.
The inmate, 23-year-old Michael Farrar, says he was in jail June 11 on suspicion of driving under the influence. He says the corrections officer beat him up as he was walking toward his cell.
Jail officials and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirm that the guard, Eric Fleming, was cited on suspicion of third-degree assault. He is on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation.
Two other officers who witnessed the incident were also placed on paid leave but have not been cited.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Five Officers accused of Jail Beatings
Lexington,KY
Four Fayette County jail officers and one former officer have been indicted on charges they beat inmates and then conspired to cover it up by writing bogus reports and threatening others not to report the incidents.
Those named in the federal indictment released Thursday are Sgt. John McQueen, Cpl. Clarence McCoy, former Cpl. Scott Tyree, Sgt. Anthony Estep and Lt. Kristine Lafoe. The first count of the indictment alleges that "the five defendants conspired with each other and with other unindicted individuals to assault inmates without justification, and to cover up their conduct by filing false reports and charges."
The remaining charges are as follows: McQueen is charged with two counts of using excessive and unnecessary force on inmates, one count of falsifying reports and one count of attempting to obstruct justice in order to cover up the assaults; McCoy and Tyree are charged with one count of assaulting an inmate and one count of falsifying reports to conceal the assault; and Estep is charged with one count of obstruction of justice for filing false charges against an inmate who attempted to report the abuse of an inmate.
None of the officers could be reached for comment Thursday.
Mayor Jim Newberry released a statement Thursday night, saying the city has "implemented various measures to help ensure a safe and secure facility for both our employees and the inmates." Newberry also addressed the indictments at Thursday's Urban County Council meeting.
He said the city installed video cameras in 2007 in the intake area, one site of alleged criminal activity, and "have completely restructured staff in intake."
"We have been aware of the ongoing investigation at the jail and will continue to fully cooperate," Newberry said in the statement.
He said the employees will be suspended with pay, effective immediately, pending further investigation.
All but Tyree still work at the jail, city officials said. Tyree works at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, but also will be suspended with pay, said Shaye Rabold, Newberry's chief of staff.
The indictments, filed in U.S. District Court in Covington, were not a surprise.
The jail has been under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice for at least 20 months. Federal officers executed a search warrant at the jail in September 2006, before Newberry's election that November.
Shortly after the FBI confirmed that there was an investigation at the Fayette County Detention Center, John Vest, an officer at the jail, came forward and said he had been working with the FBI but declined to discuss specifics. Vest was running for public office at the time.
Several former inmates have sued the jail in state and federal court alleging brutality at the hand of officers.
The indictment says that the third shift officers engaged in a conspiracy to assault and then cover-up brutality at the jail.
Between January 2006 to October 2006, the five engaged in a conspiracy to "assault, injure, inflict pain upon and otherwise physically punish" detainees at the jail and then justify the use of force by writing false and misleading incident reports that would say that the detainee attacked a jail officer, provoking the use of force, the indictment alleges.
The indictment says that the five used a "code" language to describe the use of force that made the incidents sound justifiable. Third-shift supervisors in intake would review the incident reports and make sure that officers were using the appropriate "code" language.
The indictment lists incidents involving six different inmates. The inmates are only listed by their initials. But court documents and documents obtained by the Herald-Leader through a public records request show that one of the inmates -- S.H. -- Is Scott Howe, who sued the jail in July 2007.
According to Howe's lawsuit and the indictment, McQueen reportedly slammed Howe's head into a counter in the intake area on June 17, 2006, even though Howe was handcuffed and not resisting. According to the indictment, Estep and Tyree watched and failed to report it.
McQueen then instructed Estep not to write an incident report about his assault on Howe, the indictment alleges. The Herald-Leader asked for all incident reports regarding use of force in the intake area from October 2005 to December 2006; there was no report on Howe.
In another incident, McCoy and Tyree planned to assault another detainee -- B.M. -- to retaliate against B.M. for taking a sack lunch out of the intake area. Before the alleged assault on B.M., defendants McCoy and Tyree agreed that they would falsely claim that B.M. turned on McCoy. The two officers than assaulted B.M., the indictment alleges.
Lafoe, the indictment alleges, knew that officers were using unnecessary force and failed to intervene. The indictment also says that Lafoe "instructed officers known to the grand jury that if they were going to use unjustified physical force on detainees, they should do so outside the view of any fixed or hand-held video cameras."
The indictment also alleges that jail officers retaliated against an inmate who tried to report an assault using his cell phone. The officers allegedly filed a false report against the inmate.
It is unclear whether the investigation into wrongdoing at the jail is ongoing.
The remaining charges are as follows: McQueen is charged with two counts of using excessive and unnecessary force on inmates, one count of falsifying reports and one count of attempting to obstruct justice in order to cover up the assaults; McCoy and Tyree are charged with one count of assaulting an inmate and one count of falsifying reports to conceal the assault; and Estep is charged with one count of obstruction of justice for filing false charges against an inmate who attempted to report the abuse of an inmate.
None of the officers could be reached for comment Thursday.
Mayor Jim Newberry released a statement Thursday night, saying the city has "implemented various measures to help ensure a safe and secure facility for both our employees and the inmates." Newberry also addressed the indictments at Thursday's Urban County Council meeting.
He said the city installed video cameras in 2007 in the intake area, one site of alleged criminal activity, and "have completely restructured staff in intake."
"We have been aware of the ongoing investigation at the jail and will continue to fully cooperate," Newberry said in the statement.
He said the employees will be suspended with pay, effective immediately, pending further investigation.
All but Tyree still work at the jail, city officials said. Tyree works at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, but also will be suspended with pay, said Shaye Rabold, Newberry's chief of staff.
The indictments, filed in U.S. District Court in Covington, were not a surprise.
The jail has been under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice for at least 20 months. Federal officers executed a search warrant at the jail in September 2006, before Newberry's election that November.
Shortly after the FBI confirmed that there was an investigation at the Fayette County Detention Center, John Vest, an officer at the jail, came forward and said he had been working with the FBI but declined to discuss specifics. Vest was running for public office at the time.
Several former inmates have sued the jail in state and federal court alleging brutality at the hand of officers.
The indictment says that the third shift officers engaged in a conspiracy to assault and then cover-up brutality at the jail.
Between January 2006 to October 2006, the five engaged in a conspiracy to "assault, injure, inflict pain upon and otherwise physically punish" detainees at the jail and then justify the use of force by writing false and misleading incident reports that would say that the detainee attacked a jail officer, provoking the use of force, the indictment alleges.
The indictment says that the five used a "code" language to describe the use of force that made the incidents sound justifiable. Third-shift supervisors in intake would review the incident reports and make sure that officers were using the appropriate "code" language.
The indictment lists incidents involving six different inmates. The inmates are only listed by their initials. But court documents and documents obtained by the Herald-Leader through a public records request show that one of the inmates -- S.H. -- Is Scott Howe, who sued the jail in July 2007.
According to Howe's lawsuit and the indictment, McQueen reportedly slammed Howe's head into a counter in the intake area on June 17, 2006, even though Howe was handcuffed and not resisting. According to the indictment, Estep and Tyree watched and failed to report it.
McQueen then instructed Estep not to write an incident report about his assault on Howe, the indictment alleges. The Herald-Leader asked for all incident reports regarding use of force in the intake area from October 2005 to December 2006; there was no report on Howe.
In another incident, McCoy and Tyree planned to assault another detainee -- B.M. -- to retaliate against B.M. for taking a sack lunch out of the intake area. Before the alleged assault on B.M., defendants McCoy and Tyree agreed that they would falsely claim that B.M. turned on McCoy. The two officers than assaulted B.M., the indictment alleges.
Lafoe, the indictment alleges, knew that officers were using unnecessary force and failed to intervene. The indictment also says that Lafoe "instructed officers known to the grand jury that if they were going to use unjustified physical force on detainees, they should do so outside the view of any fixed or hand-held video cameras."
The indictment also alleges that jail officers retaliated against an inmate who tried to report an assault using his cell phone. The officers allegedly filed a false report against the inmate.
It is unclear whether the investigation into wrongdoing at the jail is ongoing.
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