Three guards at a New Jersey women’s prison have been charged in connection with a violent attack on dams last month, the state’s attorney general announced Thursday.
On Jan. 11, prison guards removed inmates from their cells and allegedly attacked them at Edna Mahan Correctional Center in Clifton, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. More than 20 officers were placed on administrative leave while officials investigated allegations of violence, a union official said.
“Edna Mahan has a long, ugly history, which has justly attracted scrutiny from county, state and federal investigators,” Grewal said Thursday. “We need to hold those responsible accountable and we need to address the systemic failures that made this incident possible.”
Luis Garcia, a correctional police officer, was charged with second-degree assault, official misconduct and filing a false report. Garcia was charged with spraying a piece of an inmate, removing it from the cell and punching him in the face 28 times, causing serious injuries, according to Grewal.
Garcia is also accused of falsely reporting that the inmate punched her in the torso when he tried to stop her. However, Grewal said video evidence revealed he did not throw any punches.
Two supervisors – Sergeant Amir Bethea and Sergeant Anthony Valvano – were charged with both official misconduct and covering up the alleged assault. Bethea oversaw both the previous attack and an independent incident where officers allegedly punched a woman while removing her from her cell, despite complying with officers’ requests, according to Grewal. Bethea is also accused of revealing the inmate’s injuries.
Grewal accused Valvano of having intervened during the use of force, while he did not denounce it either. Grewal testified that he also filed a false report saying a victim was injured by hitting his head in the cell.
The investigation into the January 11 incident is ongoing. Officials said they hope to announce additional criminal charges as the investigation continues.
William Sullivan, president of the union representing officers in prison, said the union does not “tolerate any unprofessional conduct.”
“While the review of allegations against officers is disturbing, PBA No. 105 fully supports a thorough investigation that is being conducted into the incidents in question before judgments related to the allegations or agents are made. accused in connection with this, “Sullivan said in a statement.
Last year, a Justice Department report alleged that guards sexually assaulted women inmates in prison. From October 2016 to November 2019, five employees pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of more than ten women, which prosecutors said was allowed through a culture that discouraged inmates from reporting abuse.