InmateHelper
11-16-2003, 01:12 AM
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BELOW IS A LETTER I RECEIVED FROM A PRISONER AT PONTIAC CORRECTIONAL CENTER. PLEASE READ IT, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, PLEASE REPLY.
LETHAL FORCE
On October 18, 2003, between 7-7:30 a.m., at Pontiac prison, 34-yeaer old Preston McDowell was extracted from inside his cell for allegedly holding his cellie hostage. Several staff sources and prison records reveal that, the evening before the morning of the 18th, Mr. McDowell made numerous request to prison guards for medical treatment for an unknown ailment, and was escorted to the prison hospital at least three times; and each time was returned to his cell house and locked in his cell.
It is believed that because Mr. McDowell may have been in some sort of serious pain; either physically, mentally, or emotionally, he possibly assured his 53-year old cellie, known as Mr. Johnson, that he was going to stage a hostage situation to draw attention to his immediate need for medical treatment. Pontiac prison hospital has a long standing record/practice of not providing its’ prisoners with adequate medical treatment.
Illinois Department of Correction protocol for physically removing any prisoner from inside his cell, during a perceived heated or hostile situation, is to call the Administratively titled “ORANGE CRUSH”, which is the prisons version of a S.O.R.T. (Special Operations and Response Team) group, who, when arriving, gives a prisoner a command to cuff up to be extracted from his cell, or be forcefully extracted if he refuses. The entire extraction process is video recorded for any further investigation or court proceedings.
However, October 18th was the day that cell house prison officials decided they would breach protocol, and perform the extraction themselves, without recording equipment. Lieutenant Dalbaugh; the Commanding Officer, instructed regular gallery officers/turn keys: Roberts (290 lbs.), Merquan (315 lbs.), Gilbert (210 lbs), Deal (145 lbs.) and Nodine (165 lbs.), all to perform the extraction on 140 lb Preston McDowell.
The extraction process began with three five-inch (5”) cans of CO2 gas, being sprayed inside the cell, directly on McDowell and Mr. Johnson. Subsequently, a large, eighteen-inch (18”) canister of CO2 gas was brought to the gallery to effectuate the extraction. CO2 is a chemical agent (not unlike other chemical agents used by the U.S. Military) and require specific knowledge of its’ use to effect a specific square footage of area. In this case, living areas where every prisoner was locked inside his cell and most likely asleep. Within seconds, the gas had spread throughout the entire cell house and 500 prisoners were gagging and coughing in distress from the unnecessary over-exposure to a chemical agent.
Moments later, Major Kennedy arrived at the cell house and ordered Dalbaugh and his officers to breach the cell and remove both prisoners. At that point, the CO2 gas had depleted any inclination of resistance from McDowell. Dalbaugh ordered McDowell’s cellie to step to the front of the cell to be removed first. As Mr. Johnson moved toward the front of the cell to comply with the order, the cell door quickly slid open and Mr. Johnson was brutally rushed to the back of the cell, slamming him against his cellie, McDowell, and the wall. Mr. Johnson had been used as a human shield and battering ram for the guards.
Mr. Johnson was immediately and violently jerked out of the cell as the rest of the prison guards rushed in kicking and beating McDowell about the head, face, shoulders, and chest with pairs of handcuffs. McDowell was then seen by m any prisoners being dragged out of his cell, down the gallery. It was later discovered that he was also dragged down three (3) flights of stairs. Minutes later, the siren of a Pontiac City Ambulance was heard, arriving directly at the doorstep of the cell house. Mr. McDowell was in such bad shape from the beating, that he was not taken to the prison hospital; a layman was able to determine that his wounds required treatment that the prison hospital was not equipped to provide. Moments thereafter, the Illinois State Police arrived at the cell house, and on the gallery where McDowell and Mr. Johnson lived, declaring their cell to be a crime scene. Several days later, Mr. McDowell was pronounced dead.
One of the most important things about this travesty is that Mr. McDowell was housed in a special housing unit, Protective Custody. Mc Dowell obviously had a legitimate medical concern and a reasonable expectation to medical treatment. His medical concern and expectation cost him his life.
During the week of the incident, Illinois Police set up offices inside the prison to proceed with its investigation. Some prisoners have came forward and provided information on what they heard or saw during the guard’s criminal act. Other “inmates/residents” have chosen to remain silent. And sadly, these guards may get away with MURDER! Sources have also revealed that prison guards are twisting the investigation to elude the fact that McDowell’s cellie, Mr. Johnson is responsible for his death. Mr. Johnson is 6 feet 2 inches (6’2”), one hundred and ten (110 lbs), (maybe 20) pounds, and couldn’t defend himself against an 8-year-old child, if his life depended upon it. For certain, he is an elderly brother. Mr. Johnson was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment for over-exposure to CO2 gas; he remained there for 2 weeks.
In an attempt to conceal their involvement in this violent act, guards broke into the officers clothing room to rid themselves of blood stained clothing, connecting them to the death of Mr. McDowell. What they did not count on was that one of their counter-parts would write an incident report on the break-in and theft, which through diligent convict investigation, I have managed to procure a copy of the written incident report. The report is also in the hands of the Illinois State Police, and possibly will be disclosed to D.E.N.I.S. staff for authenticity and possible disclosure to D.E.N.I.S. readers.
The violent act against Preston McDowell is more than just a criminal act; it is a civil rights violation, and needs to be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Because there is a disparity in hiring majority white prison guards over African and Latino prison guards, prisoners are looked upon as human and are treated much less than human by command staff, at all Level One Prisons (Max Joints).
The following day after the brutal beating of Preston McDowell, each guard involved was placed back inside the cell house. No attention was given to the beating or even the violation of departmental protocol… no suspensions, no time off. Were it not for the Protective Custody, prisoners vehemently complaining of the callous disregard for what previously occurred, the guards would have remained inside the cell house with a tacitly established belief system that they could continue disrespecting prisoners as less than human…with impunity!
The death of Preston McDowell is getting little to no media coverage, and for the matter, many prisoners here at Pontiac believe that Preston McDowell’s family may not even be aware of how the investigation is being handled. Preston McDowell is but one of the many violent acts, and/or deaths visited upon prisoners by prison guards. So, I urge anyone who may know Preston McDowell’s family that it would be prudent to contact them and let them know the position they should be taking, regarding this matter. One or all the guards involved should be charged with murder and accountability to murder.
Concerned Prisoner – Pontiac C.C.
BELOW IS A LETTER I RECEIVED FROM A PRISONER AT PONTIAC CORRECTIONAL CENTER. PLEASE READ IT, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, PLEASE REPLY.
LETHAL FORCE
On October 18, 2003, between 7-7:30 a.m., at Pontiac prison, 34-yeaer old Preston McDowell was extracted from inside his cell for allegedly holding his cellie hostage. Several staff sources and prison records reveal that, the evening before the morning of the 18th, Mr. McDowell made numerous request to prison guards for medical treatment for an unknown ailment, and was escorted to the prison hospital at least three times; and each time was returned to his cell house and locked in his cell.
It is believed that because Mr. McDowell may have been in some sort of serious pain; either physically, mentally, or emotionally, he possibly assured his 53-year old cellie, known as Mr. Johnson, that he was going to stage a hostage situation to draw attention to his immediate need for medical treatment. Pontiac prison hospital has a long standing record/practice of not providing its’ prisoners with adequate medical treatment.
Illinois Department of Correction protocol for physically removing any prisoner from inside his cell, during a perceived heated or hostile situation, is to call the Administratively titled “ORANGE CRUSH”, which is the prisons version of a S.O.R.T. (Special Operations and Response Team) group, who, when arriving, gives a prisoner a command to cuff up to be extracted from his cell, or be forcefully extracted if he refuses. The entire extraction process is video recorded for any further investigation or court proceedings.
However, October 18th was the day that cell house prison officials decided they would breach protocol, and perform the extraction themselves, without recording equipment. Lieutenant Dalbaugh; the Commanding Officer, instructed regular gallery officers/turn keys: Roberts (290 lbs.), Merquan (315 lbs.), Gilbert (210 lbs), Deal (145 lbs.) and Nodine (165 lbs.), all to perform the extraction on 140 lb Preston McDowell.
The extraction process began with three five-inch (5”) cans of CO2 gas, being sprayed inside the cell, directly on McDowell and Mr. Johnson. Subsequently, a large, eighteen-inch (18”) canister of CO2 gas was brought to the gallery to effectuate the extraction. CO2 is a chemical agent (not unlike other chemical agents used by the U.S. Military) and require specific knowledge of its’ use to effect a specific square footage of area. In this case, living areas where every prisoner was locked inside his cell and most likely asleep. Within seconds, the gas had spread throughout the entire cell house and 500 prisoners were gagging and coughing in distress from the unnecessary over-exposure to a chemical agent.
Moments later, Major Kennedy arrived at the cell house and ordered Dalbaugh and his officers to breach the cell and remove both prisoners. At that point, the CO2 gas had depleted any inclination of resistance from McDowell. Dalbaugh ordered McDowell’s cellie to step to the front of the cell to be removed first. As Mr. Johnson moved toward the front of the cell to comply with the order, the cell door quickly slid open and Mr. Johnson was brutally rushed to the back of the cell, slamming him against his cellie, McDowell, and the wall. Mr. Johnson had been used as a human shield and battering ram for the guards.
Mr. Johnson was immediately and violently jerked out of the cell as the rest of the prison guards rushed in kicking and beating McDowell about the head, face, shoulders, and chest with pairs of handcuffs. McDowell was then seen by m any prisoners being dragged out of his cell, down the gallery. It was later discovered that he was also dragged down three (3) flights of stairs. Minutes later, the siren of a Pontiac City Ambulance was heard, arriving directly at the doorstep of the cell house. Mr. McDowell was in such bad shape from the beating, that he was not taken to the prison hospital; a layman was able to determine that his wounds required treatment that the prison hospital was not equipped to provide. Moments thereafter, the Illinois State Police arrived at the cell house, and on the gallery where McDowell and Mr. Johnson lived, declaring their cell to be a crime scene. Several days later, Mr. McDowell was pronounced dead.
One of the most important things about this travesty is that Mr. McDowell was housed in a special housing unit, Protective Custody. Mc Dowell obviously had a legitimate medical concern and a reasonable expectation to medical treatment. His medical concern and expectation cost him his life.
During the week of the incident, Illinois Police set up offices inside the prison to proceed with its investigation. Some prisoners have came forward and provided information on what they heard or saw during the guard’s criminal act. Other “inmates/residents” have chosen to remain silent. And sadly, these guards may get away with MURDER! Sources have also revealed that prison guards are twisting the investigation to elude the fact that McDowell’s cellie, Mr. Johnson is responsible for his death. Mr. Johnson is 6 feet 2 inches (6’2”), one hundred and ten (110 lbs), (maybe 20) pounds, and couldn’t defend himself against an 8-year-old child, if his life depended upon it. For certain, he is an elderly brother. Mr. Johnson was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment for over-exposure to CO2 gas; he remained there for 2 weeks.
In an attempt to conceal their involvement in this violent act, guards broke into the officers clothing room to rid themselves of blood stained clothing, connecting them to the death of Mr. McDowell. What they did not count on was that one of their counter-parts would write an incident report on the break-in and theft, which through diligent convict investigation, I have managed to procure a copy of the written incident report. The report is also in the hands of the Illinois State Police, and possibly will be disclosed to D.E.N.I.S. staff for authenticity and possible disclosure to D.E.N.I.S. readers.
The violent act against Preston McDowell is more than just a criminal act; it is a civil rights violation, and needs to be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Because there is a disparity in hiring majority white prison guards over African and Latino prison guards, prisoners are looked upon as human and are treated much less than human by command staff, at all Level One Prisons (Max Joints).
The following day after the brutal beating of Preston McDowell, each guard involved was placed back inside the cell house. No attention was given to the beating or even the violation of departmental protocol… no suspensions, no time off. Were it not for the Protective Custody, prisoners vehemently complaining of the callous disregard for what previously occurred, the guards would have remained inside the cell house with a tacitly established belief system that they could continue disrespecting prisoners as less than human…with impunity!
The death of Preston McDowell is getting little to no media coverage, and for the matter, many prisoners here at Pontiac believe that Preston McDowell’s family may not even be aware of how the investigation is being handled. Preston McDowell is but one of the many violent acts, and/or deaths visited upon prisoners by prison guards. So, I urge anyone who may know Preston McDowell’s family that it would be prudent to contact them and let them know the position they should be taking, regarding this matter. One or all the guards involved should be charged with murder and accountability to murder.
Concerned Prisoner – Pontiac C.C.