[News X] Multiple court cases raise allegations of misconduct at TTCF: Is there enough oversight?

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Twin Towers Correctional Facility

 

Multiple court cases raise allegations of misconduct at TTCF: Is there enough oversight?

We look into a number of recent court cases alleging use of excessive force and verbal and physical abuse at TTCF and speak to Alex Caulfield about his case

By PHOEBE HOLTER

 

LOS SANTOS - “Okay bro, relax relax! There are cameras, “ warned a colleague of Deputy Ryan Husley as he pressed his taser into the back of Alex Caulfield and drive-stunned him for a prolonged period of time as Caulfield was pinned to the ground. The incident occurred shortly after the handcuffed Caulfield was badly beaten and bloodied by Husley and his colleague Deputy Christian Palmer, after a initial scuffle which involved Caulfield headbutting Husley. The recovering addict was being escorted into the Towers Correctional Facility after having failed a drug test, a violation of his parole conditions. He was later charged with the assault of Deputy Ryan Husley in relation to this incident.

 

To some, Alex Caulfield’s on-going civil case against the department which includes allegations of excessive use of force may appear somewhat familiar.  A recent, similar case (Justine Harlow v. Los Santos County Sheriff's Department) passed through the courts earlier this month and also featured comparable allegations of verbal and physical abuse by LSSD deputies during transit and processing at TTCF. 

 

“It's completely fucked what goes on in [TTCF] and I'm not gonna act like I was the only one going through it. I've been in county multiple times and each time I'd see even more cases of complete misuse of authority” - Alex Caulfield 

 

Deputies leave TTCF with sirens on, presumably to respond to an incident

 

Due to the burden of evidence required to successfully raise a suit against a government department, court cases are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to allegations of misconduct at the county jail coming from those who have passed through. Inmates such as Caulfield have lodged claims ranging from denial of treatment for those with psychiatric disorders, beatings by custody deputies and misuse of what are known as segregated cells (essentially, solitary confinement).  

 

“I remember an inmate who'd clearly needed psychiatric help and had begged and pleaded to get transferred or at least considered for parole, ” Caulfield claimed, looking back on his time in the county jail. “Instead they denied him and beat him for trying to tell them how to do their jobs. The day I was scheduled to be released I watched him suddenly hang himself in the dayroom. Deputies weren't even around when he did it either.”

 

Claims such as Caulfield’s are often hard to prove at best and unfortunately, unverifiable at worst. Which adds additional difficulty when it comes to the matter of oversight. However, similar allegations of the mistreatment of those suffering mental illnesses have been made in the case of Veronica Meade v. State of San Andreas which is currently in hearing in the Supreme Court of San Andreas. It is claimed that in that case, deputies subjected the woman in question, who according to court documents suffers from “a range of mental disorders” and was deemed mentally unfit for trial  to “physical and mental abuse”. This reportedly included “being encouraged to take her own life by deputies” as well as “being subject to excessive force and witnessing a deputy torture another inmate”.

 

Alex Caulfield, from Facebrowser, he alleges this photograph was taken after the incident involving Deputies Christian Palmer and Ryan Husley

 

In a statement provided to News X, the LSSD stated that TTCF “hosts a number of floors specifically designed for inmates with needs concerning their mental health” and that it employs “numerous, trained civilian staff to assist inmates with their mental health needs”. In regards to the allegations of abuse, it dismissed these as “coming from fiction, rather than any fact”. It also pointed out that TTCF is a “Correctional Treatment Center”.  

 

“There was this one guy I'll never forget, Hector Huertas. The poor guy had been getting beaten day in and day out for weeks when I first landed. His cell was right next to mine so I'd hear the deputies wailing on him every night like clockwork. Went on for a while and I remember one night they thought they'd killed him, guy was unconscious and was pretty much dragged out of his cell towards the infirmary” - Alex Caulfield

 

Resignation is a common attitude held by many when it comes to the subject of custodial abuse. One online commenter, who later claimed to have spent time at TTCF wrote in response to numerous allegations lodged against TTCF custodial deputies as “yeah but it’s jail, what the fuck did you expect?”. The same user then went on to state that in their view “it’s just factual that abuse happens” and that they themselves had been a victim of it. Simply writing off claims of abuse as either entirely fictitious or treating it as an inevitable part of the justice system is self-defeating, especially in a city so chronically stricken with crime such as Los Santos.

 

TTCF from above

 

Rehabilitation is impossible when those going through the system end up completely disillusioned with the structures of power in the state and even more distrustful of law enforcement agencies. This is true in the case of Caulfield as well as many others, with Caulfield stating: “I know all these different departments like to play things up for the cameras but there's things I've witnessed that'd make people sick just because I found myself on the wrong side of the law”. Building a rapport in communities cannot come if many feel the system is fundamentally broken. 

 

“I ended up getting ripped out of my cell by none other than Hulsey himself and he had me locked away in solitary for weeks with little to no food, no visits, and no phone calls.  Just because I'd tried to speak out against the injustice” - Alex Caulfield

 

The Custody Services Division of the LSSD, after having been approached, have denied Caulfield’s accounts of the situation involving Huertas. Furthermore, when asked about abroad the broad subject of allegations in regards to mistreatment, they had no comment. They also reassured that the wellbeing of all inmates is a “top priority” of the department. 

 

A taxi leaving TTCF, presumably after picking up someone who's been released

 

 

“The well-being of all inmates housed within the number of Los Santos County jail facilities is the top priority of the Sheriff, the Department, and custody deputies, as well as any other sworn or civilian staff”  - LSSD Custody Services Division in a statement

 

Amongst all the claims made — both by those in court and those sharing their experiences as anecdotes — there will be rumours, hearsay and no doubt, some degree of mistruths. These will come potentially out spite towards staff or attempts at bravado on the behalf of the accusers. But looking at the documented conduct in the numerous court cases that have been brought to light recently should raise some eyebrows. Not only due to the issues it seems to raise in regards to the way those in custody are being treated, but many would hope that deputies should not need to be reminded of the presence of cameras in order to put an end to the use of excessive force on those being processed at TTCF; no matter the degree of resistance they provide.

 

Full statement provided by the Custody Services Division of the LSSD

Spoiler

The Custody Services Division has no medical records to entertain the allegations made by Mr. Huertas, and furthermore, custody deputies being referred to as "guards" further supplements the idea of these allegations coming from fiction rather than any fact. The well-being of all inmates housed within the number of Los Santos County jail facilities is the top priority of the sheriff, the Department, and custody deputies, as well as any other sworn or civilian staff.

The Custody Services Division will make no comment on events that pertain to an on-going court case and/or events that fall under the scope of the Professional Standards Division.

 Tower 1 of the Twin Towers Correctional Facility hosts a number of floors specifically designed for inmates with needs concerning their mental health as the facility as a whole falls under Custody Services Division - Specialized Programs. Twin Towers Correctional Facility is a "Correctional Treatment Center" with numerous, trained civilian staff to assist inmates with their mental health needs.

Inmates can be placed into disciplinary segregation for any number of offences. Each disciplinary segregation is overseen by the on-duty watch commander who is present during the process. A report is additionally written by the handling deputy that conducted the disciplinary segregation and then reviewed by the watch commander. Other supervisory staff will attend as necessary.

The Custody Services Division has no comment on any "allegations".

 

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Edited September 27, 2021 by books

[Eestino]

Username: MSDj

Comment: It's LSSD, I'm not surprised, the same guys that hate Italo Americans, thank u Sheriff Cline

[Cocaine Capital]

 

Username: Redheadedmenace

Comment: Does SD even try to hide it anymore?literally claiming it to be fake strictly on the fact the inmates used the term “guard”? Really cuz I remember everyone calling em guards my last two bids. 

 

• Quote

[CausticCafard]

Username: causticlyx 

Comment: They deny all the allegations, yet try to intimidate and strongarm people into dropping their cases against the department. I REALLY wonder why the fuck that is? 

[sky~]

Username: BeeBooWaa

Comment: I only see one court case?? fake.

[Fabulous]

Username: helicopter_enthusiast

Comment: tan man korrupt?

[knppel]

Username: TheRealCarrySaunders

Comment: They should have rebranded this as the Rick-Washington-Recreational Center rather than name some street after him, I don't even know where that street is!

[imi]

Username: bluekitten4

Comment: FAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ryoichi]

Username: Christianbeliever56

Comment: No offense, but these men and woman working for LSSD, in particular in TTCF are angels send from above to keep these devils away from population! 

 

Edited September 27, 2021 by Ryoichi

[Nunwithagun]

Username: Baskingball1
Comment: Yeah lets just trust the word of inmates who have violent crimes on their rap sheet lol fake news