Guilty Verdict for Two Correctional Officers in Inmate Beat Down

For Immediate Release 4/7/2016

Two Correctional Officers were found guilty of several offenses related to an attack on half a dozen inmates at the Maryland Reception Diagnostic and Classification Center (MRDCC) in Baltimore, Maryland.

After trial, Sergeant Kwai Ramsey and Sergeant Jemiah Green were convicted of two counts of second-degree assault and five counts of second-degree assault, respectively as well as individual counts of misconduct in office.� Both men will be sentenced on June 20, 2016.

On September 29, 2013, several inmates held in the Maryland Diagnostic Classification Center attacked Correctional Officer Alade Ganiyu. Later that evening, several of Ganiyu’s fellow correctional officers retaliated against the inmates believed to be responsible for Ganiyu’s injuries. Assistant State’s Attorney Dana Middleton from the Baltimore City Sate’s Attorney’s Major Investigations Unit prosecuted the retaliating officers and the prisoners responsible for the violence.� The case was investigated by City Corrections Investigative Unit (CCIU) Detective Jonathan Wright.

“The actions of these correctional officers – in particular Jemiah Green, who was previously accused, charged, and convicted of assaulting other inmates – demonstrated a pattern of lawless conduct by some staff at MRDCC,” said Major Investigations Unit Division Chief Gerald Collins. “Our partners with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services were of great assistance in this investigation.”

The incident began with an altercation between Ganiyu and inmate Mark Brown. Brown disobeyed a direct order from Ganiyu to replace a dinner tray. When Brown refused, Ganiyu attempted to place handcuffs on Brown. Several inmates took exception to Ganiyu’s actions and voiced their displeasure. According to witnesses, Brown then punched Ganiyu in the face and other inmates started attacking the correctional officer.

After the attack, Ganiyu was evacuated to Maryland Shock Trauma. He suffered a fractured nose and a fracture to his left orbital bone, as well as back and knee injuries.

The following day, authorities received complaints from several inmates— including Mark Brown— who said that they were severely beaten by Correctional Officers in retaliation for the attack on Ganiyu.

According to the investigation, Sergeant Green, Sergeant Ramsey, and Correctional Officer Richard Hanna, were accused of isolating six inmates they believed to be responsible for hospitalizing Ganiyu. The inmates were handcuffed while being beaten, maced and punched by the officers. All six inmates required medical attention after being assaulted. The inmates were instructed to tell medical staff at MRDCC that they had fallen from their bunk beds.

“Law enforcement officials are expected to abide by the very laws they enforce and set an example for our city,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “This sort of reckless behavior, by anyone, will not be tolerated. This verdict highlights our promise to treat everyone fairly and equally under the law.”

Correctional Officer Hanna pled guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree assault on May 6, 2015.