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Prison officials and police grilled on brutal cell extractions and riot charges
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| graphic by Molly Crabapple |
Andre
questioned Lt Mozier whether he recalls that he had complied and removed the
covering on his cell, and why the use of pepper spray.
Carrington questioned
the absence of evidence of and testing for feces. Wiseman, attorney for Peters asked why the
men fingered in the HRC report are the ones chosen to remove the men from the
cells.
Police investigator
Corporal Wilson was grilled on why he took three months to file riot charges,
and why he never in that time spoke to the men who were charged, why he took the
DOC's word that the men did not want to talk with him. He said, "There are two sides of the
story and the truth is somewhere in between." In a powerful moment, Andre asked if the
April 28 incident (what we know is the 15 hours restraint of prisoner Isaac
Sanchez) that prompted the April 29 incident was part of his investigation and
he said they were not related.
ANYONE WHO CAN ATTEND THE TRIAL ANY DAY THIS WEEK OR NEXT MONDAY, PLEASE CONTACT US!
WE URGENTLY NEED AS MANY SUPPORTERS AS POSSIBLE TO BE PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM.
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| graphic by Molly Crabapple |
The videos of
the actual cell extractions, as opposed to the lead up to the extractions, were
finally shown. Pepper spray is sprayed
into the tiny cells before extraction and you can hear the men coughing. The guards rush into the cells of the men who
are not resisting in any way, and Carrington Keys is heard saying "I am
not resisting." Two of the men have
covered their faces and head to prevent the guards from pulling their hair and
to protect themselves from the pepper spray.
Lt Mozier was
questioned about his awareness of the reports of abuse and asked if it was a
staged incident in retaliation. Andre
also said the video showed he had complied with the order to remove the
covering so it was not true that "at no time did he comply" and why
was that not in the official report.
Also missing from the report was his telling them that he feared for his
life. Attorney Wiseman called the
judge's attention to the vigorous head shaking that an officer of the DOC was
doing in the gallery which she said had to stop. Another witness was removed from the court
who should not have been there.
Carrington
Keys asked why, if there was feces thrown, did it take two hours to go to
medical when the rule is to report contact with bodily fluid immediately, and
nothing was mentioned in the videotape of the debriefing, no injuries reported,
and no evidence of the clothing that was allegedly contaminated was
preserved?
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| video still from cell extraction of Carrington Keys |
Attorney
Wiseman's questioning focused on the brutal aspects of the force used, from
electric shocks to pepper spray to restraint chairs. He also cleared up that
there were no hostages, which was implied by the psychologist who was called in
from the hostage negotiating team.
Andre Jacobs
questioned Corporal Wilson who filed the riot charges. He asked why he never interviewed him to ascertain
if there was legitimate purpose for their action. He also asked the Corporal if he had a
financial interest in this case as he is mentioned in a lawsuit, but the
objection by the DA to that question was sustained. Finally, why was the April
28 incident that provoked the April 29 action not included in his
investigation? Carrington Keys asked how
he could identify him when he didn't even meet him. Attorney Wiseman hammered
on why he did not interview the men for his investigation, how one-sided the
investigation was, why he didn't go to the prison and ask to meet the men, and
how could he possibly know their intent was to bring the violence of cell
extraction down on themselves.
The day ended
with the testimony and questioning of two of the guards who had been part of
the cell extraction team. The first said
that a liquid substance was thrown but it hit the shield and splattered on him
on the sleeve and gloves. But Carrington
Keys questioned how that could have happened when he was the last man in, and
why the medical report said he was hit with a cup of urine and feces on his
head and why when the extraction was at 10:15 the medical report was not until
12noon. Further, why when he wrote an
incident report was the throwing of urine and feces not mentioned. The guard replied that he only reported what
he did, not what was done to him. Andre
asked if he had met with the DA and on how many occasions.
Trial is continuing today, Thursday
April 7, and then will resume on Monday April 11.
ANYONE WHO CAN ATTEND THE TRIAL ANY DAY THIS WEEK OR NEXT MONDAY, PLEASE CONTACT US!
WE URGENTLY NEED AS MANY SUPPORTERS AS POSSIBLE TO BE PRESENT IN THE COURTROOM.
Now is the
time to help these brave prisoner whistleblowers win a major victory for
prisoners across Pennsylvania and across the US
Please do the check-in if you want to come or contact by email or
phone. Rooms are available in the area.
If you cannot attend, PLEASE, do the
call-in/fax-in. http://tinyurl.com/dallas6letter.
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| March for Freedom for the Dallas 6 at the Luzerne County Courthouse, March 18, 2016 |
