Roughly 10 current and former correction officers have been indicted in the March 1 beating death of 22-year-old inmate Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility, according to the Times Union. The incident occurred during a widespread strike that disrupted operations at over 30 New York prisons.
Fifteen officers were placed on leave; seven have since resigned. Some officers allegedly used excessive force, while others may have tried to cover it up. Investigators noted a lack of bodycam footage, complicating the case. A similar inmate death at a nearby facility months earlier led to multiple murder charges.
Governor Hochul condemned the death, calling it “deeply disturbing” and vowed justice for Nantwi’s family, emphasizing accountability for those charged with protecting incarcerated individuals.
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