Correctional officers indicted for alleged assaults on inmates
TOWSON, MD —Three current correctional officers and one former correctional officer in Baltimore have been indicted by a Baltimore City Grand Jury in connection with two separate alleged assaults on inmates, the first of which occurred after another correctional officer was assaulted. The first incident began last September 29 at the Maryland Reception, Diagnostic, and Classification Center (MRDCC), a high rise structure at the corner of Madison Street and Greenmount Avenue. A second unrelated incident—but involving an officer who had been transferred from MRDCC after the first alleged assault— also involved a correctional lieutenant, and occurred in January 2014 at Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center (BCBIC).
The indictments, announced today by Baltimore State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein, follow months of cooperative investigative work spearheaded by the City Correctional Investigative Unit (CCIU) and the DPSCS Intelligence and Internal Investigative Division (IID).
“Our Internal Investigative detectives were on this case immediately, and made sure to bring in CCIU and the State’s Attorney’s Office right away,” said DPSCS Secretary Gregg L. Hershberger. “We expect all of our officers to conduct themselves honorably and with integrity. Those that do not will be held accountable.”
Three of the officers indicted today have been placed on emergency suspension without pay; they had been moved to other facilities during the investigation before formal charges
were filed. The fourth resigned during the investigation.
According to the indictment, an officer at MRDCC was assaulted on September 29, 2013.
The next morning, three officers allegedly carried out a series of assaults on five separate inmates they believed were responsible for the assaulted officer’s injuries. The officers have been charged with multiple counts, including assault and conspiracy. The inmates they allegedly assaulted were also charged in connection with the assault on the officer the night before.
The second, separate incident involved a correctional lieutenant, as well as a sergeant who had allegedly been involved in the first inmate assault at MRDCC months earlier. The sergeant was indicted for assault in connection with both incidents. Both officers involved in the BCBIC incident were placed on admin leave w/pay immediately after the alleged assault.
DPSCS Communications Office Contacts:
General number | 410.339.5081 | mddpscscommunications@dpscs.state.md.us
Mark Vernarelli | 410.339.5065 | mvernarelli@dpscs.state.md.us
Gerard Shields | 443.823.5134 | gshields@dpscs.state.md.us