Witnessing Abuse has a Domino Effect
7 May 2018 - At the present time, I remain to be still assigned to the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, where the following took place 29 July 2017 and and where continued general mistreatments are being concealed under Sr. Warden Kelly Strong’s dehumanizing leadership. The events I am about to describe are completely true and have been documented by the grievance department here on unit - it’s the most they are good for, and merely one element of many departments that are a part of the in-house investigation manipulation process.
The ordeal actually started before I even realized it myself. And please note, all dates mentioned here may not be actual dates. I had my date book mysteriously come up missing here recently after cell search.
On 13 July 2017 myself and others witnessed gang intel. Sgt. Marquez physically attack some unknown handcuffed inmate, and to be completely honest I had no intentions of grieving the matter. But, all that changed 2 days later on 15 July 2017.
I was stopped in the exact same hallway by the same Sgt. Marquez and directly threatened that she would “cause [me] harm” if I “got in her business” and that her “word is good.” I knew she had seen me in the dayroom window for sure and I didn’t say a word as she walked away and I contemplated my faith.
On 17 July 2017, unknown to other inmates, I seriously felt compelled to attempt to take action and so I wrote and submitted a I-127 Step 1 grievance detailing what I witnessed and the threatening verbal message directed at me by Sgt. Marquez. Now exactly 14 days later, after being confonted and threatened, I was physically attacked during 3rd shift in the same hallway by officers Steven Tamez and B. Thorshov around 2:30 am, returning from a very unusually late medical satefy meeting for maybe 50 or more inmates.
Sgt. Marquez wasn’t around and it’s sad that conspiracy is hard to prove. During the course of being assaulted, I attempted to defend myself which is still my constitutional right with minimal force. And I was no doubt in a situation of imminent danger of bodily injury.
I was wrestled to the ground once other officers arrived, and then placed in handcuffs. No sooner than the cuffs were secured while laying on the floor, officers S. Tamez and B. Thorshov hit me with radios, handcuffs, and the injuries were my left eye bursted open, wounds to the top of my head, right hand and shoulder. Then refused medical treatment a few hours and later seen by a male nurse who refused (ER) treatment, merely given bandages. July 31, 2017 I was merely taken to speak to a Dr. T. Hall who never got up to physically examine me, he did order order x-rays and I had some of the x-rays finally done August 25, 2017.
From the morning of July 29, 2017, I was placed in a cell on prehearing with no lights. I guess where other people couldn’t see me and to limit my sight even more, I couldn’t stand much light to my eye. For maybe a week and a 1/2 I didn’t have any property of mine, but I managed to secure a I-60 requesting to be interviewed & given a lie detector test on August 3, 2017, never a response. I finally got a grievance form and submitted it August 7 and remember the grievance dropped on Sgt. Marquez, I got that returned the next day (8-8-17) and its response was “No substantial evidence could be found to support my claim of misconduct & and that no 3rd party can witness a incident, this office will consider this issue closed.”
Everyone and anyone know that U.O.F. paperwork was done to cover her wrong. I never got a response to letters going to disabled sister and daughter that was mailed out Aug. 11 or 12, 2017 til around Sept. 1, 2017 and only after I went out by another name and number. My first grievance concerning matters, I informed administration that I feared further harassment, retaliation and that my life was in danger. Also that these prisons are employed by people who are blood relations, old school mates, friends of friends and sometimes intimately, and for these reasons I requested to be transferred to another unit to deter any direct or indirect transgressions towards my physical wellness or mental health. Yet, my direct pleas to my oppressors were no good.
On Sept. 7, 2017. I was released amd reassigned to med. custody and once 3rd. shift arrived, so did my attacker who refused to allow my cellmate and me out the cell for breakfast and refuse me a medical appointment, not just one night but 2 morning in a row. I wrote & submitted a grievance and there’s cameras everywhere but the hallways. The administration continues to refuse to transfer, I have been given writeups for talking in hallway to other officer, locked-up for for not allowing another attacker to pat search me when another officer was available to conduct pat search, I seen officer Thorshov pointing me out to the same Sgt. Schmidt who wrote up for talking in hall to another officer.
During the manipulation of in house investigation, almost every officer who knows me by face were asking “why did I do it?” Word had been circulated I was the aggressor and they ran with it. And some officers are leery around me, a set up. There was a assoc. of state rep. Eric Johnson’s called the unit on behalf and Warden Strong informed her and my sister that “I was a bad actor and deserved what I got.” This was indirectly admitting these unlawful acts under color of state law. I never got a u.o.f. physical until Oct. 3, 2017 once someone called in here from Mr. Johnson’s and they were to cover a bases and its still no u.o.f. statement from me that day or any other nowhere! Yes, I did have a number of witnesses to my to my being attacked as well as others here and the administration is keeping these attacks under wraps here.
On unit, most our grievances are not allowed go off unit as step 2’s are suppose to. So our complaints are mostly never heard beyond the unit, generally officers do as they want and lie later. Disciplinary is a big joke cause the (DHO) will allow officers to change up they’re written or/and verbal statements during the hearing and even the subcounsel who is to defend us at hearings advocate for the officers cause and never question our violated due process, everyone eats off the same plate.
I seriously feel that we prisoners in Texas and elsewhere should have outside independent oversight committees for a number of functions. In order to bring about real justice to a real injustice system there must be some real change! The people become aware that their tax dollars are being used to promote open but hidden oppression. The 70 & early 80’s were killing grounds and its seriously not that way here on the Wynne Unit but, officials are presenting us in this light falsely by rationalizing to the general public & here most recently to the media a few weeks ago. Ms. Strong, put a extreme political twist to manipulate some of her subordinates, her superiors and the voters of Texas.
Recent hungre strike took place due to the general mistreatments under her leadership and the subhuman conditions. We were actually placed on lockdown status we (50 or more) witnessed another inmate being physically attacked by officers and some us were written bogus cases due to us seeing what happened and officials decided to use this opportunity to lock us down and discredit these statements that was turned in opposing their actions. Then we were further oppressed once the Warden (Strong) unleashed the G.I. Sgt. Marquez where was allowed take radio, hot pots or whatever and then a (one) bag of waste wrapped-up in a bag on the runway where someone who ware a sh– bag discarded it, medical don’t pick them up, they started our 30 day lock down ever.
After Strong misled the media to thinking inmates were causing disruptions, attacking staff and throwing waste to justify her actions, she left 1/2 of us up off lockdown to cause more strife but no-one went that messy stuff. I guess I should save something for my next report. But I am personally keeping hope alive someone who can give assistance to getting my and others attackers arrested & charged and civil rights complaints against these in & direct position and cause of official oppression under political heat and costly fines. But I been searching for legal assistance high and low. I am not a lawyer nor a politician but, I am seriously finding out that its a lot easier to obtain some legal relief for people who are not Americans. People will send a person to prison when found guilty of mistreatment animal but, turn blind eye to us humans in these prisons. I love dogs and can’t wait to me another one and those who are people mistreated all over the earth, I feel that pain in this U.S. prison.
We/me need legal help so would you please post this for help on your website or facebook page and allow our voice to be heard, please!
I ain’t no bad actor as falsely promoted, I am/we are people who made mistakes as humans do and need someone or a few to open their hearts and understand we can’t do this alone, we outside help. I guess I can be contacted direct here and remember the worse thing to do Nothing! IN closing, the Bro. who sent encouragement to me via “Under Lock & Key” I seriously thank you for your article “Successes Against Retaliation” Nov. 2017, I love man and I hope others here, there and everywhere got your vibes…Til next “ULK” keep on spreading the word that oppression under these conditions are unjust condition around the world- Peace!
