Inmate - Shore News Network

Maryland state prison inmate killed; homicide investigation underway

Breaking Local News ReportFebruary 25, 20250

JESSUP, Md. — Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a state prison inmate at Jessup Correctional Institution, which has been ruled a homicide, authorities said Tuesday. The victim, identified as 61-year-old Warren Michael Griffin, was pronounced dead at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. He had been serving time at the Jessup facility in Anne Arundel County. Investigators have identified a suspect, also an inmate, but have not released his name pending formal charges. The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit launched its investigation on Feb. 21 after being contacted by the Department of Public Safety and

Former New Jersey corrections officer sentenced to three years for assaulting inmate

Breaking Local News ReportFebruary 21, 20250

TRENTON, N.J. — A former New Jersey Department of Corrections officer was sentenced to three years in state prison for using excessive force against a resident of the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center’s Special Treatment Unit in Woodbridge. The sentencing follows an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability (OPIA). Giuseppe Mandara, 55, of Brick, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge Thomas K. Isenhour at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. A 15-year veteran of the DOC at the time of the incident, Mandara pleaded guilty in December to third-degree aggravated assault and was ordered to forfeit

Rikers Island inmate indicted for arson and slashing correction officers

Breaking Local News ReportJanuary 17, 20250

BRONX, N.Y. — A Rikers Island inmate has been indicted on multiple charges, including arson and assault, after allegedly starting a fire in his cell and slashing two New York City Department of Correction officers who responded to the incident, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced. Anthony Taveras-Morales, 24, was arraigned Tuesday before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alvin Yearwood on charges including second-degree arson, six counts of second-degree assault, and multiple counts of promoting prison contraband. He was remanded and is scheduled to return to court on April 3. On December 17, 2024, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Taveras-Morales allegedly

Ohio corrections officer indicted for sexual abuse of federal inmate

Breaking Local News ReportDecember 29, 20240

CLEVELAND, OH — A federal grand jury in Cleveland has indicted Damon K. Perry, 52, of Youngstown, on charges of sexually abusing a female inmate under his supervision at the Mahoning County Jail. The facility, which houses federal detainees under contract with a federal law enforcement agency, was the site of two alleged incidents of abuse in November 2023. According to the indictment, Perry, a corrections officer at the time, committed the first act of sexual abuse on November 9, 2023, while the inmate was in his custody. A second incident reportedly occurred on November 30, involving the same detainee.

Ohio prison guard beaten to death by inmate on Christmas morning after offering to take shift so others can stay home

Breaking Local News ReportDecember 29, 20240

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — An inmate at Ross Correctional Institution fatally attacked a prison guard on Christmas morning, leaving staff and family mourning the loss of a respected officer who was working overtime to allow others to spend the holiday at home. The victim, 55-year-old Andrew Lansing, was reportedly ambushed by inmate Rashawn Cannon, 27, in the prison yard. Cannon, who was serving a sentence for a violent assault in 2023, veered away from the dining hall and attacked Lansing without warning, according to Annette Chambers-Smith, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. “Andy Lansing elected to work voluntary

Inmate death at Northern State Prison under investigation by attorney general’s office

Breaking Local News ReportDecember 17, 20240

TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) is investigating the in-custody death of an inmate at Northern State Prison in Newark following an encounter with correctional police officers earlier this month. The inmate, identified as David Silva, 46, died on December 12 after being hospitalized following the December 3 incident. Officials have not disclosed the circumstances surrounding the encounter, and the identities of the involved officers have not been released. The investigation is being conducted under a 2019 state law that requires the Attorney General’s Office to examine deaths that occur during

Death of inmate at Alleghany County prison ruled a homicide

Local News ReportNovember 28, 20240

ALLEGHANY COUNTY, MD — Authorities are investigating the death of a 28-year-old inmate at the North Branch Correctional Institution, which has been ruled a homicide following an autopsy. Maryland State Police identified the deceased as Robert Warren, who was found dead in his cell on Nov. 25. Officials have not released details about the manner of his death but confirmed that a suspect, also an inmate, has been identified. No charges have been filed against the suspect as of Wednesday morning, police said. The case remains under investigation. Once the investigation is concluded, the Alleghany County State’s Attorney’s Office will

Inmate murder under investigation at North Branch Correctional Institution

Breaking Local News ReportNovember 27, 20240

CUMBERLAND, Md. — Maryland State Police are investigating the homicide of an inmate at the North Branch Correctional Institution in Cumberland after the death of 28-year-old Robert Warren was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Warren was found unresponsive in his cell on November 25 and was declared dead by emergency medical personnel. He was serving a state prison sentence at the maximum-security facility. Authorities have identified another inmate as the suspect in Warren’s death, though no charges have been filed as of Wednesday. The suspect’s name is being withheld until charges are placed. The

Inmate Charged with Cellmate’s Murder at Burlington County Jail

Breaking Local News ReportNovember 22, 20240

Man Charged with Cellmate’s Murder at Burlington County Jail

**Mount Holly, NJ** – Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw has announced the arrest of a man accused of murdering his cellmate at the Burlington County Jail.

Rondale Holloman, 37, from Burlington Township, faces a First Degree Murder charge following the death of Kenneth Bulle, 74, from Mount Holly. The case is being prepared for a grand jury to consider an indictment.

The investigation started early on Tuesday when corrections officers discovered the incident. Kenneth Bulle was pronounced dead after the attack, with an autopsy confirming death by manual strangulation, conducted by Dr. Ian Hood, Burlington County Medical Examiner.

The Prosecutor’s Office led the investigation, with Major Crimes Unit Detective Nicholas Schieber and Crime Scene Unit Detective Steven Trunfio spearheading the efforts. Assistant Prosecutor Robert S. Van Gilst from the BCPO Major Crimes Unit will handle the prosecution. All individuals involved are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Inmate Death in Maryland Triggers Investigation

Breaking Local News ReportNovember 1, 20240

WESTOVER, Md. — Maryland State Police are continuing their investigation into the death of an inmate at the Eastern Correctional Institute in Somerset County. The deceased, identified as 38-year-old Virgil Bernard Robinson, was found unresponsive in his cell on September 21 and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to authorities, Robinson was serving time at the state prison in Westover, Maryland, when he was discovered by prison staff around 5:10 p.m. Following the discovery, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was called in by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services’ Internal Investigative Unit (DPSCS IIU) to lead

Six New Jersey Prison Guards Indicted for False Reports After Incident with Inmate

Breaking Local News ReportNovember 1, 20240

Indictment Announced for Six NJ Correctional Officers

**TRENTON, NJ** – The New Jersey Attorney General, Matthew J. Platkin, and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) have announced that a state grand jury has indicted six correctional police officers. These charges are linked to the 2020 assault of an inmate at the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility.

The indictment, composed of seven counts, accuses the officers of pepper spraying and forcibly removing an inmate from a cell on April 8, 2020. Additionally, the officers are alleged to have filed false reports concerning the incident.

The officers facing charges include Sgt. Michael Emmert and Senior Corrections Officers Christopher Toth, Mark Sadlowski Jr., Raymond Quinones, Michael Gaines, and Michael Ambrozaitis. The indictment follows an investigation by the OPIA’s Corruption Bureau and the Department of Corrections’ Special Investigations Division.

All officers are charged with official misconduct, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records. Emmert and Toth face an additional charge of aggravated assault. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Inmate sets small fire at Eastern Correctional Institute, no injuries reported

Breaking Local News ReportOctober 23, 20240

WESTOVER, Md. — A small fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at the Eastern Correctional Institute in Somerset County, prompting the temporary relocation of 20 inmates, according to officials. The incident occurred at approximately 1:42 p.m. in a cell on Bravo Tier within Housing Unit 5 of the state detention facility, located at 30420 Revells Neck Road. Correctional officers quickly discovered and contained the fire within five minutes, officials reported. According to an investigation notice, the fire was classified as incendiary in nature after an inmate ignited combustibles within the cell. Smoke alarms were activated, but the facility’s sprinkler system did

Virginia Jail Guard Arrested for Acts Against Female Inmate

Breaking Local News ReportOctober 22, 20240

STAFFORD, Va. — A 60-year-old correctional officer was arrested Monday on multiple felony charges related to alleged misconduct involving a female inmate, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies received information on October 21 at approximately 10:42 a.m. about possible improper contact between a correctional officer and a female inmate at Rappahannock Regional Jail, located at 1745 Richmond Highway. The allegations prompted detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division to respond. Following an investigation, the suspect, identified as Chadwick Jackson of King George, was taken into custody without incident later that day. Jackson faces three felony counts of sexual battery

Inmate charged after pulling shiv during prison fight

Breaking Local News ReportOctober 21, 20240

STAFFORD, Va. — An inmate at Rappahannock Regional Jail was injured during a fight involving a makeshift knife on October 18, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:51 a.m., involved four inmates in two separate altercations. Deputy K.R. Sprinkles responded to the jail at 12:55 p.m. following reports of a fight. After reviewing camera footage and speaking with jail staff, Deputy Sprinkles learned that the first altercation began when one inmate assaulted another. Moments later, a second fight broke out between two additional inmates. Authorities said that during the confrontation, one of the

Ohio Death Row Inmate Released on House Arrest Pending New Trial, DNA Evidence

Breaking Local News ReportAugust 21, 20240

XENIA, Ohio — An Ohio death row inmate, David Lee Myers, 60, has been released on house arrest as he awaits a new trial for the 1988 murder of a pregnant teenage mother. Myers was released on Monday from the Greene County Courthouse after his conviction and death sentence were vacated, following claims from his attorneys that DNA evidence in the case does not match him. Myers is accused of killing Amanda Jo Maher in 1988 by driving a railroad spike through her head. He had been on death row for decades until recent developments in the case led to

Inmate Found Dead with Multiple Stab Wounds in Maryland Prison

Breaking Local News ReportAugust 11, 20240

CUMBERLAND, MD—Maryland State Police are conducting an investigation following the death of an inmate at the Western Correctional Institution. Marvin Brown, 23, was declared deceased on the scene by emergency personnel on Thursday at approximately 9:30 AM. Brown was found unresponsive in his cell, exhibiting multiple puncture wounds. An autopsy is scheduled at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore to determine the exact cause of death. Following initial findings, investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services contacted the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit. An inmate at the facility has been identified as a suspect in

Escaped Inmate Captured After Home Invasion in Delaware

Breaking Local News ReportAugust 9, 20240

GEORGETOWN, DE — Delaware State Police have reported the arrest of Lyndon King following a home invasion and robbery that occurred on the afternoon of August 8, 2024, in Georgetown. King, a 36-year-old escapee from the Sussex Community Corrections Center, is now in custody in Maryland pending extradition to Delaware. The incident unfolded around 3:30 p.m. when King allegedly forced his way into a residence on Zoar Road, confronting a 69-year-old woman upon her return home. He is accused of threatening the victim, physically assaulting her, and disabling the house phone to prevent any calls for help. King then stole

Inmate Sentenced for Assaulting Corrections Officer in Pennsylvania

Breaking Local News ReportJuly 27, 20240

SCRANTON – Carlos Rodriguez-Cruz, 33, currently an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to an additional 30 months in prison for assaulting a federal corrections officer. This sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Julia K. Munley on July 25, 2024. Rodriguez-Cruz, originally from Puerto Rico, admitted to the assault which occurred on October 6, 2023. The confrontation escalated when he punched the officer during an incident at the facility. His plea followed investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. At the time of

Queens Inmate Indicted on Murder Charges Following Death of Shooting Victim

Breaking Local News ReportJuly 26, 20240

QUEENS, N.Y. — Jeffrey Thurston, currently serving an 18-year sentence for attempted murder, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of second-degree murder following the death of Malachi Capers, a former college athlete shot by Thurston in July 2020. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment, highlighting the tragic escalation of a minor altercation into fatal violence. Capers, a student at SUNY Buffalo on a football scholarship, succumbed to complications from the gunshot wound in January 2024, nearly four years after the incident. The original altercation occurred on July 27, 2020, when Capers accidentally bumped into Thurston

Escaped NYC Inmate Back in Custody After Three Week Manhunt

Breaking Local News ReportJuly 17, 20240

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Police Department has reported the arrest of 35-year-old James Mossetty on charges related to escaping from custody. The arrest occurred on July 16, 2024, at 1:47 PM within the confines of the 13 Precinct. Mossetty, a resident of 44-24 College Point Boulevard, Queens, NY, was initially involved in an incident where he escaped corrections custody at NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue. This event took place on Wednesday, June 26, at around 9:38 PM while Mossetty was receiving medical treatment. After escaping, Mossetty fled on foot into the FDR Drive. He remained at large

Pennsylvania Woman Charged for Passing Drug-Soaked Paperwork to Inmate

Breaking Local News ReportJuly 6, 20240

Pittsburgh, PA – Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus announced today that April Wright, a 37-year-old woman from Swissvale, is facing multiple charges for attempting to pass suspected drug-soaked paperwork to an inmate at the office of Magisterial District Judge Anthony DeLuca. On July 1, 2024, surveillance footage captured Wright entering Judge DeLuca’s office, passing through a metal detector, and proceeding to the restroom. She remained in the restroom for a few minutes before exiting the building but staying on the premises. Approximately five minutes later, Pennsylvania State Constables escorted Ryan Den-Zel Perry, Wright’s boyfriend, into the office and towards the restroom.

Inmate Charged After Assault on Corrections Staff in Manassas

Breaking Local News ReportJune 24, 20240

MANASSAS, VA – An incident at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center early on June 24 led to additional charges against an inmate, Bryan Hernandez Diaz, 21, of Manassas. Diaz is accused of assaulting correctional staff with a sharp object during an intervention by the facility’s personnel. At approximately 12:09 AM, corrections officers were attempting to assist Diaz when he reportedly brandished a sharp implement wrapped in a towel. As staff members approached to detain him, Diaz cut one officer and attempted to stab others. The situation was quickly contained, and no serious injuries were reported, though one staff

Investigation Launched After 80-Year-Old Inmate Dies in Maryland Prison

Breaking Local News ReportJune 23, 20240

CUMBERLAND, MD—Maryland State Police have commenced an investigation into the death of 80-year-old state prison inmate Ralph Ruark. Ruark, who was serving time at the Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland, was declared deceased by emergency medical service personnel and transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for a forensic examination. The incident leading to Ruark’s death occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. yesterday. The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was notified by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigative Unit at 4:10 p.m. the same day. The investigation is being spearheaded by the Maryland State

Rikers Island Inmate Indicted on Multiple Charges Including Predatory Sexual Assault

Breaking Local News ReportJune 22, 20240

BRONX, NY—Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark has announced the indictment of Kelvin Williams, 34, a Rikers Island inmate, on multiple charges stemming from an alleged attack on a transgender inmate. The charges include Predatory Sexual Assault, first-degree Criminal Sexual Act, and first-degree Sexual Abuse, among others. The incident reportedly occurred on the evening of May 12, 2022, at the Anna M. Kross Center, where video surveillance captured Williams pacing before entering the victim’s cell. He allegedly threatened the victim with a makeshift ice pick, presenting a harrowing choice between being stabbed or sexually assaulted. Williams is accused of then

New Jersey Seeks to Ban the Word Inmate for Incarcerated Criminals, Here’s What It Will Be

Breaking Local News ReportJune 9, 20240

In a move toward reforming the language used within the legal system, New Jersey lawmakers introduced Bill A4507, aimed at changing the term “inmate” to “incarcerated person” in state statutes. This legislative effort, spearheaded by Assembly members Julio Marenco, Shanique Speight, and Carmen Theresa Morales, was introduced on June 6, 2024. The bill seeks to amend various parts of New Jersey’s statutory law to reflect a more humane terminology when referring to individuals in the prison system. This change is based on recommendations from the New Jersey Law Revision Commission’s final report issued on June 6, 2022, which advocated for