My husband tells me that on July 26, 2026, Lieutenant Botton dispatched two correctional officers to remove him from the shower after he was accused of participating in a fight. While he was trying to explain himself, Lieutenant Botton instructed the correctional officers to continue to remove him. He says that, in his experience, when an incarcerated individual continues to speak or attempts to explain himself, the COs respond with physical force to silence him. During this incident, my husband was restrained with handcuffs and leg restraints and was instructed to walk backward. The COs also repeatedly slammed him onto his back against the concrete while he was restrained. He further reports that the lieutenant threw him onto a “golf cart.” While on the cart, my husband’s body weight rested on his hands, causing additional pressure and discomfort.
After he arrived in the SHU, he informed three COs that his handcuffs were too tight and were cutting off circulation to his wrists. The handcuffs were supposed to be double-locked to prevent them from tightening or loosening. However, as he was repeatedly forced onto the concrete, the restraints continued to tighten, further restricting circulation to his hands and wrists.
Despite his repeated complaints of pain and the loss of circulation, he was left in restraints for approximately two hours after arriving in the SHU. When he asked for medical attention, the COs responded that he should not have been “running his mouth.”
My husband was reportedly scheduled to receive medical attention on the day of the incident, but he was not taken for the expected evaluation. Correctional staff administered a breathalyzer test and a urinalysis, both of which he passed. To my knowledge, my husband did not receive a disciplinary ticket for the incident.
Despite repeatedly informing correctional staff that he needed medical attention, his complaints were not adequately addressed in a timely manner. Since then, my husband’s injuries have continued to affect his daily life. Approximately three weeks ago, he was finally seen by a nurse, who informed him that his hand injuries required evaluation at an outside hospital and that surgery might be necessary. My husband was told that the ligaments in his hands were pulled, sprained and dislocated. Nevertheless, he has not yet been taken to the outside hospital for the necessary evaluation and treatment. He can no longer work out or comfortably apply pressure with his hands. Even the simple act of writing causes him discomfort. Due to the lack of appropriate medical supplies, he has resorted to using socks as makeshift wraps around his hands.
No incarcerated individual should have to endure unnecessary physical force or struggle to obtain medical attention after reporting an injury. Regardless of the circumstances leading to an individual’s placement in the SHU, correctional personnel have a responsibility to follow established procedures and ensure that legitimate medical concerns are addressed appropriately.
I am requesting that this matter be investigated thoroughly, that relevant evidence be preserved, and that my husband receive the necessary medical evaluation and treatment without further delay.