lanesboro correctional officer killed

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Whether corrections officers helped facilitate any of what occurred that day, we dont know, said Tony Underwood, the special agent in charge of the nine-county SBI district that includes Anson and Mecklenburg counties. April 2009 - Inmate Prentiss Quick complained of chest pains and requested medical help, but no one at the prison got him to a nurse or a doctor, a correctional officer and an inmate said. He said he based his suspicions on information from inmate informants and prison surveillance video. Prison leaders plan to examine many factors, including staffing patterns, Guice said. How serious Parsons was about keeping contraband out of the prison remains unclear. The confrontation began at about 8:30 a.m., when an inmate assaulted another inmate at . He stares into the office for a few moments before walking away. It was shocking to see the place wasnt being supervised with more of the restrictions that youd expect in a prison, she said. Before he left in 2016 to oversee 15 state prisons in western North Carolina, Mitchell told the Observer: Im certain there are people involved with gang activity that work here.. If Cooks DNA had turned up on any of the shanks in Walls office, that could have helped tie them to the attack. [7], The country was in major shock from the massacre. Its so dangerous that some officers begin their work days by asking those coming off the previous shift how many assaults theyve just seen. "They might have had enough officers to subdue that inmate before he got that fire extinguisher from the sergeant," said Robert Webster, a former captain at two North Carolina maximum-security prisons. Some family members believe that the murder may have been . Most (of the prisons officers) are good, hard-working folks, said Underwood, the SBI supervisor. research before making any education decisions. Prison surveillance video doesnt capture that meeting, so its unclear what they discussed. February 2017 - Former officer Evangeline Hunt was charged with smuggling in drugs and other contraband for inmates. POLKTON, N.C. - A lieutenant and a sergeant were stabbed by inmates at Lanesboro Correctional Institution around 2 p.m. Thursday and are being treated for their injuries at local hospitals, a "All it would take is for five or ten guys to decide we're going to take over the prison. Prison leaders say they have begun assigning new officers "career readiness coaches," who provide pointers on dealing with inmates, keeping themselves safe and attaining career goals. According to charges contained in the federal indictment, Blyther worked as a correctional officer at the Lanesboro Correctional Institution (LCI), since renamed Anson Correctional Institution, a state prison located in Polkton, North Carolina. RT @PresstvExtra: At least 40 people have been killed in flooding and landslides in Brazil's So Paulo state, officials say. Wall, now 45, wouldnt talk to the Observer. Prosecutors later dismissed the charge because of problems with the credibility of witnesses. Since the beginning of 2016, more than 30 stabbings occurred. Our site does not feature every educational option available on the market. The Anson County Sheriff's Office says one inmate is dead and another was stabbed. Suite 1650 He stretches his arms high. Nikki Haley will be at Horry-Georgetown Technical College on March 13, a month after she launched her White House bid. The state has recently made offers to about 400 officer candidates, so the vacancy rate will likely drop, Guice said. And we don't have enough staff to fight back.". Searches found numerous cellphones, improvised weapons and marijuana. They assert that releasing the videos could jeopardize prison security. [17], After years of national and international pressure, the prison was demolished on 8 December 2002, the former complex having been turned into a park. programs we write about. Murder probe exposes more problems at Lanesboro prison, Former SC governor, Trump ally Nikki Haley coming to Myrtle Beach as she runs for president, Fort Mill just named its top teachers and staff members for 2023. They entered their dogs in fights and watched them die. "When you don't have adequate staff to manage the inmates, and there's an incident, unfortunately people can get hurt and sometimes people even die," Webster said. Bridges said she doesnt believe that. Bridges said that, in her opinion, Walls meeting with the Latino gang members was connected in some way with the subsequent fight. It's as simple as that.". Angela Smith, who worked as an officer at Tabor Correctional Institution from 2010 to 2014, said she was often asked to work overtime because the prison was so understaffed. ANSONCOUNTY, N.C. -- A N.C. inmate has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that corrections officers at an Anson County prison cracked his skull with a baton . Here are his plans. He sued and won a $10,000 settlement from the state. Special Agent in Charge John A. I would like to see the truth be told about what happens at Lanesboro. Its also unclear where Zelays-Sorto and Ortiz go immediately after the meeting breaks up. [10] He was in charge of the special police unit ROTA that is known for having an aggressive approach to civil disturbance. The weapons were found nearly a year and a half after the deadly fight, and forensic tests did not tie any of them to the attacks on Turner and Cook. Lake Norman mansion for sale hosted famous Talladega Nights Hollywood dinner scene, Ex-high school coach accused of sex crimes against 6 more athletes, NC sheriff says. Walls testimony was brief and he did not elaborate on the hidden weapons. State officials say they are working to improve conditions at Lanesboro. Roberts, one of Vazquezs attorneys, said he was surprised to see how freely inmates at Lanesboro were allowed to roam the prison. At Polk Correctional Institution, north of Durham, two or three officers are routinely put in charge of monitoring more than 200 inmates in the chow hall, said Sierra Gravitte, an officer who this month resigned from the prison after four years on the job. In interviews with investigators, officer Kearry Hinson said he picked up one of the weapons used in the fight and gave it to Wall. Contact SAP - Penitentiary Administration of So Paulo (Secretaria da Administrao Penitenciria), Brazil, Corrections in So Paulo, So Paulo Brazil. Parsons testified that it was easy for inmates to make weapons, from broom handles, batteries and even toothbrushes. In a court filing, Wall denied the federal lawsuit claims, saying he never facilitated attacks or gave gang members preferential treatment. On the morning of Sept. 28, 2012, the day that Turner was stabbed to death, there were rumors of potential violence. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety says a lieutenant and a sergeant were stabbed by inmates at Lanesboro Correctional Institution in Polkton around 2 p.m. Thursday. He would not discuss the lawsuit or his testimony with an Observer reporter. ANSON COUNTY, NC (WBTV) - One inmate is dead andanother injured after an incident at a state prison in Anson County. Reporters interviewed Cook in March, two days after he was released from prison. Id like to see the truth be told about what really does go on in here.. An investigation by The Charlotte Observer, NC woman who beat 1 in 3.35 million odds shows up to claim her lottery jackpot, Mail carrier cant believe his eyes after seeing NC lottery win. Authorities say prison Sgt. Guice, the prison leader, acknowledged that the state faces significant staffing challenges. Inmates within the LCI were prohibited from possessing controlled substances and are permitted to use controlled substances only when prescribed by a medical professional and under the direct supervision of LCI staff. From a common area, Cook can see Zelaya-Sorto and Ortiz the prisoners who have just met with Wall. Dates, what you need to know, Winthrop loses to Radford in Big South tournament quarterfinals, Bonnaroo vows to stay champion of self-expression despite Tennessee drag show ban. Hours after the murder, video also shows Wall gesturing to the killer. According to Acree, the prison is temporarily locked down while an investigation begins. About 45 miles from Charlotte, just beyond a grove of trees, Lanesboro Correctional Institution houses some of the states most violent criminals. She and her colleagues in the Charlotte SBI office were frequently called to investigate crimes there, including officers charged with bringing drugs to inmates. He was sentenced to 32 to 48 months. Around 1:30 P.M., two groups got into a fight after a game of football; the fight quickly escalated into a prison riot that lasted three hours. An officer at the gate house said Wall was upset and had a gun visible in his car, which violates prison policy. Zelaya-Sorto did reply to the Observer, but wrote only: Este caso esta serado This case is closed.. Next is Joel Sour Ortiz, who is in prison for armed robbery and shooting a motorist in the head during a road-rage attack on Raleighs beltline. "We've got to find a way to retain the people who work for us," Guice said. They have nothing to worry about, Wall told the officer, according to the document, because if I wanted to get anyone, I could get them touched from the outside.. The current capacity of Lanesboro Correctional Institution is 1,400 adult male inmates. All charges in the indictment are allegations. State prison policy says weapons potential criminal evidence should be kept in a locked container in the prisons armory. To investigators and the killers lawyers, his meaning seems clear: The man making that gesture isnt another inmate. As alleged in the indictment, as a correctional officer, Blythers duties included the supervision of inmates, and ensuring safe, secure and orderly prison operations. But local law enforcement officials are optimistic about changes at Lanesboro. Wesley Turnerwas stabbed to death and taken to Anson Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. One inmate dead, another injured in prison incident, Medical Marijuana bill passes NC Senate; some cannabis supporters against bill, 8-year-old helps raise money for favorite Waffle House worker in need of car, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. The case was brought before the inter-American Commission by The Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), the Teotnio Vilela Commission for Human Rights, and Human Rights Watch, and in 2000, eight years after the massacre, they condemned Brazil for it. Staff researcher Maria David and editor Rogelio Aranda contributed. [19] In August 2013, another 25 policemen involved in the massacre were sentenced to 624 years each for the deaths of 52 inmates. Five years after the murder, Lanesboros problems continue. in Criminal Justice, The Panopticon: The Controversy Over an 18th Century Prison Concept Thats Still in Use Today, Quick Work by Tennessee Correctional Officers Foils Escape Plan, California Correctional Officers Honored for Saving Lives While Off-Duty, Florida Corrections Officer Taken Hostage Found Unharmed, Correctional Center in Nome, Alaska Offers Job Training Workshops to Help Inmates Re-enter Society. Authorities believe all three of the convicted inmates had homemade knives, commonly known as shanks. He did not respond. 34/00, Case No. Updated: 4:34 PM EST November 9, 2012. At Lanesboro, 45 miles southeast of Charlotte, it was common for 42 officers to watch about 1,200 prisoners on the night shift, according to Gregory McCoy, who worked there as a correctional officer from 2009 to 2016. All three of the convicted inmates have been transferred to other state prisons. Turner reportedly belonged to the same gang as Cook and was trying to go to his defense. Bridges also questioned why Wall met with two gang members minutes before they attacked Cook. State figures show that in April, when Callahan died, roughly one of every five correctional officer positions at the eastern North Carolina prison was vacant. Peguese resigned from the system in May 2013, while he was under investigation, said Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Pamela Walker. Bridges, 46, a North Carolina State graduate and former Concord police officer, was familiar with Lanesboro. Bridges and a prison captain searched the ceiling and found videos of prison fights, nine rods, a long metal shank and three bloody shanks. Located in Polkton, about 45 miles east of Charlotte, Lanesboro has repeatedly drawn scrutiny after violence, contraband smuggling and allegations of improper conduct by corrections officers. Heres how SBI officials say the early afternoon fight unfolded: Shortly before the attack, two of the convicted inmates visited the office of an assistant unit manager. Other former Lanesboro inmates also say that corrections officers have made a dangerous environment more so. He stretches his arms wide above his head, then lowers them and covers his mouth with both hands. Forensic tests did not tie any of the shanks in Walls ceiling to the attacks on Turner, according to Bridges, the SBI agent. More than 45 N.C. prison officers have been fired . ANSON COUNTY, N.C. One inmate is dead after an incident at Lanesboro Correctional Center in Anson County. Officers found Dwyer dead at 10:15. in Criminal Justice - Corrections, and M.S. The lawsuit being litigated at Charlottes federal courthouse this week was brought by Stacey Wynn, an inmate who suffered serious injuries following two November 2011 assaults at Lanesboro. I characterize the lack of supervision there as, quite frankly, shocking, Roberts said. The officer opens the door for an inmate, and the three gang members follow him into a cell block where they dont belong. Prison officials considered that a clear threat to staff. 11.291 (IACmHR, Apr. In 2017, The New York Times published an article captioned "Brazils Deadly Prison System". The three wait outside Cooks cell block for more than a minute. CHARLOTTE, N.C. A federal grand jury sitting in Charlotte has indicted Erice Lemond Blyther, 46, of Hoffman, N.C., for smuggling a controlled substance at Lanesboro Correctional Institution while employed as a correctional officer. He said I could face an EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) complaint for making false accusations.. "It puts officers' lives in danger to be honest. Testimony from former unit manager Jeffery Wall came during the second day of a civil trial examining whether Walls supervisor, the top official at Lanesboro Correctional Institution, ignored serious problems and allowed Wall to maintain a violent, contraband-driven fiefdom.. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "111 Killed When Police Storm Brazilian Prison During Inmate Riot", "Carandiru v. Brasil, Report, Report No. [8], In April 2013, 23 policemen involved in the massacre were sentenced to 156 years in prison each for the killing of 13 inmates. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. "It's not safe," McCoy said. They were planning to go to that unit to settle a dispute with Cook, who belonged to a different gang. Hands among the dead were found in front of the face or behind the head suggesting defensive positions. As soon as the inmates entered D pod, Ortiz and Sorto attacked Cook, surveillance video shows. Vazquez, 32, had already been serving an eight- to 10-year sentence for second-degree murder. Two state investigators said they reached the same opinion. Lanesboro Correctional Institution is a 1,000 cell, high security prison facility located adjacent to Brown Creek Correctional Institution and Anson Correctional Center in Polkton, NC. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son in June 2021, Get ready to change your clocks. Bertie now houses about 935 inmates. 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Lanesboro Correctional Institution houses about 1,800 inmates in close, medium and minimum custody. No prison officials have been criminally charged. Parsons declined to talk with the Observer about that and other allegations. At no time did (I) knowingly or willingly allow any inmate to attack any inmate, he wrote. Lanesboro Correctional Institution Lanesboro Correctional Institution is located in Polkton North Carolina. "I think if I hadn't gotten over there in time, (Mosley) probably would have cut her throat," McCoy said. [1], The incident was started by a prisoner revolt. I believe its not a coincidence that they are in that office within minutes of carrying out that hit, Bridges told an Observer reporter. The massacre has also sparked ongoing discussions, both in Brazil and internationally about Brazil's prison system. Strong of the FBIs Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making the announcement. In a cell block inside one of the states most dangerous prisons, an inmate stabs a rival gang member over and over, 13 times. Lanesboro Correctional Institution is a state men's prison in Polkton, North Carolina, first opened in January, 2004 and operated by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Adult Corrections.As one of the state's four largest prisons, the official capacity is 1,800 prisoners. In February, the FBI charged former Lanesboro officer Evangeline Hunt with smuggling in drugs and other contraband for inmates. He said the injuries he suffered in the 2011 attack have made it impossible for him to lift much weight above his head or work some prison jobs. "When your shift starts at 5:30 a.m. and you work 12 hours and you get told you're held over till 9 (p.m.) you're not alert. A third inmate involved in the altercation that day Julio Alberto Zelaya-Sorto pleaded guilty last month to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Gregorio Cortez Vazquez, who was accused of stabbing Turner, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Wednesday in Anson County Superior Court and was sentenced to up to 16 years. But while North Carolina typically hires about 1,800 to 2,000 prison officers per year, it usually loses about that many as well. Soon afterward, a corrections officer allowed the inmates into the pod where the murder took place. Officers said excessive overtime work can leave them burned out and exhausted. Its time, Cook wrote, to expose why Turner died. Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough. In 2014, a Lanesboro officer was paid $29,800 but made another $35,600 in overtime.