Time on ice Florida officials torture prison learners freezing strip cells (2018) by Kevin Rashid Johnson

Time on ice Florida officials torture prison learners freezing strip cells (2018)

by Kevin Rashid Johnson

When I first arrived in the Florida prison system on June 22, 2017 and was thrown in solitary confinement in

the latest of numerous retaliatory interstate transfers for publicizing and resisting prison abuses I questioned

and discussed with numerous other prisoners are being forced to live in sweltering cells without air-conditioning

or fans or any other protections against the severe Florida heat

Many responded that in Florida Department of corruption FDOC officials deliberately use extreme temperatures

to torture prisoners especially targeting those of color in the mentally ill in that many have died as a result and it

wasn't just with the heat.

They forecasted that as soon as outside temperatures began to drop I did witness and likely also experience on

account of my propensity to challenge abuses the constant abuse of strip cells namely the removal of all

property from prisoners cells for 72 hours with which they might keep warm in order to torture them in

extremely cold cells.

When It’s Cold Outside…

Those predictions proved prescient…

As October arrived in outside temperatures dipped into the 50 to 60° range I witnessed a sudden spike in the

abuse of strip cells and it's been almost exclusively targeted at mentally ill prisoners and prisoners of color.

To speciously justify these abuses guards routinely lie usually claiming falsely that the prisoner misused property

items inside his cell in a manner that threatened prison safety or security.  Often the claimed threat is so patently

absurd as to be laughable even if it were true such as claiming the prisoners band wasn't properly made.

Sometimes they also fabricate a disciplinary report DR to create a record to make the strip cell appear justified.

But the abuse occurs with such impunity and regularity that most times they don't bother writing a DR making

evident that the prisoner did nothing wrong.

Not writing the DR is also portrayed by guards as a trade-off to manipulate prisoners to not grieve (1) or

otherwise challenge the abuse.  Since, receiving a DR (of which prisoners are almost never acquitted) typically

means an automatic additional six months in solitary confinement (euphemistically called close management in

the FDOC).

Guards lied to put prisoners on strips cell upon their slightest wins including obvious racial prejudice and

intolerance of the mentally ill out of spite for prisoners talking cell to cell based on the guards grudge or foul

mood, for a prisoners requesting emergency medical or mental healthcare or for no discernible reason at all.

In only three months October 2017 to January 2018 I witnessed and documented so many instances of this

abuse that it would be unfeasible to list them all here therefore I will give just a random sampling.

… It Gets Cold Inside

Before Setting out specific incidents of abuse as a strip cell I should explain why the cells here in at Florida

state prison FSP for example become and remain extremely cold during cold weather although the prison docs

have an internal heating system.

Each FSP cell has a large shutter back window measuring approximately 2 1/2 feet x 3 feet which opens to the

outside.  Because FSP is old and poorly maintained most of the cell windows don't close at all or all the way or

they have drafts.

Also atop each cellblock or large exhaust fans that remain on at all times.  These exhausts suck air into the cells

through the open or drafty windows overpowering any potential in-cell heat with cold outside air much like

driving a car in the cold with the windows open.  The cell temperatures therefore remain as cold or nearly as 

cold as the temperature out-of-doors.

The cellblock's typically gets so cold when the temperatures drop outside that guards working them remain

bundled up in their coats and hats and especially at night.  Only when it becomes unbearably cold to them turn

off the exhaust fan to allow their work areas the cells to warm up.  This allows the sales to warm up also.  I now

come to specific instances of abuse of strip cells.

Group Freeze

On October 23, 2017 I was moved onto the third floor of one of FSP's disciplinary cellblock (B-wing), to serve a

disciplinary sentence imposed for a DR falsified against me by a Sergeant  Alvin Cazee, in retaliation for my

naming and quoting him in a recent article boasting about FSP officials have been killed numerous prisoners

and covered those killings up (2).  

At that time outside temperatures were dipping into the 40s - 50s.  Throughout my time on B wing the heating

system was turned off as guards claimed the wing’s boiler was broken but as already noted even when on the

heating system does not keep the cells warm.

On B- wing’s third floor there are 34 cells.  On the day I was moved on to the wing there were eight prisoners

on just that for on strip cell, (all of them Black and Latino), including Steven Harris's number R53631, Eduardo

Vargas # AL61184, Thomas Valentine #T62025, Thomas Partlow #J42484, Christopher McGrady # B09103,

and others.

That following night when they were on strip cell it was so cold that even those of us who had bedding,

clothing, mattresses and even formal underwear were cold.  Many of us spoke up telling the wing sergeant to

turn off the exhaust fan, specifically because of those on strip sell. To no avail.

Gregory Ashley

Gregory Ashley #W78952, one of the many men who forewarned me about the cold weather strip cell abuses,

was himself a victim numerous times, simply because of being outspoken.

On December 24, 2016 he was ordered by a Sgt. Warner to stop talking out of his back window to a prisoner in

another cell.  Ashley replied that if he was doing something wrong to write him a DR, but he was going to keep

talking.

Incensed by Ashley's defiance response Warner left and returned with the Capt. William Hall and Lieut. Stephen

Thompson who told him he was going on strip cell for allegedly covering his cell window.  Ashley protested

that he never had any covering over his window and had done nothing to go on strip cell.  Intern he was

repeatedly gassed and put on strip cell for three days.

As soon as Robert he was returned Ashley filed grievances on the abuse, including informal grievance number

1701-205-080.

In retaliation for his filing grievances against them, Hall, Thompson and Warner returned on December 29,

2016 and repeatedly gassed Ashley again and put him on strips cell for another 3 days.

Ashley received no DR for any claims wrongdoing on either occasion. The responses he received his grievances

stated that his complaints were referred to the FDOC;s Inspector General's office, which Office has been

repeatedly exposed in and the media and is notorious for ignoring and covering up abuses and killings of

prisoners by FDOC officials. (3)  Predictably, Ashley never heard anything from that office.

Corinthian Johnson

On October 18, 2017 Corinthian Johnson #B08931 was randomly targeted for strip cell for no reason.  Upon

protesting that he'd done nothing to be put on strip cell, he was repeatedly gassed and thereupon put on strip

sale for 3 days.

To justify this abuse, a guard Lucas Karr fabricated a ridiculous DR against Johnson claiming that during the

security round he observed Johnson wasn't fully dressed in pants and shirt in his bed wasn't properly made

(DR number 205 – 172390 – a copy of that DR is posted with this article).  The DR falsely claim that Johnson

refuse to obey cars instructions to be fully dressed and to make his bed properly, which never happened, but

even had it, there was obviously nothing done, or not done, that justify taking his property or gassing him.

Derald Young

Derald Young #A132676 is a chronic asthmatic who receives chronic medical care for his condition and often

requires breathing treatment.  On October 17, 2017 he needed his breathing treatment and told guards he was

having a medical emergency. They refused to contact medical staff so young try to speak to the wing Lieut.

Stephen Thompson about his situation.

Instead of contacting the medical department Thompson maliciously put Young on strip cell, with no DR

written. Young later wrote a grievance on this abuse.

On October 31, 2017 Young attempted again to address Thompson, this time about needing some missing

legal property of his.  Again, instead of addressing his issue Thompson told Young he was going on strip cell,

stating his bed wasn't made out properly, although it was. Young relinquished all of his bedding and clothing,

except what he was wearing, because he couldn't sleep the entire 3 days when last put on strip cell by Thompson

due to the cold; also because cold aggravates and triggers his asthma.  

Intern Thompson and a captain S. Lola had young cell extracted. The "cell extraction” team of 5 body armored

guard beat Young at length (as is the common practice during cell extractions at FSP), including repeatedly

punching him in the face and head using handcuffs as brass knuckles (4).

Young consequently suffered a lacerated lip and brow, hemorrhages across the white of his right eye, and

knots in contusions across his head and face. He received no medical care except you have a nurse wipe away

the blood that covered his face, as the guards who’d beaten him cursed the guard who was operating a portable

audio-video camera during the sale extraction, because he'd film part of the assault on Young.  Young was then

put on strip cell for 3 days. He received no DR is for any claim to misconduct neither on October 17 nor 31st.

Robert Griffin

On December 7, 2017 Robert Griffin #S12986, went to the FSP medical department and returned to his assigned

cellblock J-wing.  Upon entering - wing, the guard who was ‘escorting’ Griffin, named Chism, whispered

something to the wing Sgt. D. Tollesfsrud, who then told Chism to lock Griffin inside the wing’s shower.

Several guards then went into an searched Griffin cell, and came out with nothing. Tollefsrud sent them back

into the cell, this time they took all of griffins clothes out of his cell.

As they escorted him back to the cell he asked why his clothes were taken and was told, for his allegedly

“altering state property.”  He protested that they were obviously lying and playing games to set him up.

Upon being locked inside his cell he was told to give them the clothes he was wearing, which he protested

and refused to do.

Intern the guards called Lieut. Stephen Thompson and Capt. S. Lolo to the wing. They've been had Griffin

gassed repeatedly, sell extracted and put on 3 days strip cell in a cell with back with a back window that doesn't

clothes, while outside temperatures were in the 40s.

The extraction team kicked, kneed and beat Griffin at length, including using handcuffs as brass knuckles.

When he was brought out of the cell afterword I have deserved to griffins resultant injuries, including a lacerated

left eyebrow, swollen nose, blackened bruises to his right eye which was swollen shut, multiple contusions,

swelling and knots across his face. Griffin received no DR.

Rickie Watson

On December 29, 2017 Ricky Watson #B11163, was standing in his cell door listening to a radio through

headphones. A guard with a black eye who was working the waiting began yelling and cursing at in unidentified

prisoner to stop talking, which brought a taunting response, "that's why you got a black eye now!”

The guard came to Watson cell, apparently because he happened to be standing at the door, and held up his pen

at Watson, who asked what he meant by that gesture.  The guard responded, "you already know,"and walked off.

A few minutes later Watson was put on strip cell.

A DR was fabricated against Watson, to create a pretext for the strip cell. I'll guard our. McDade lied on the

DR claiming falsely that he'd observed Watson with the state issued shirt tied around his head, his mattress on

the cell floor instead of on the bunk and a blanket covering his cells back window.  McDade claimed he ordered

Watson to remove the shirt and blanket and to place the mattress on the bunk and Watson refused.   Which

didn't happen. (DR # 205 – 172952).

McDade crafted the DR so to justify targeting Watsons bedding, mattress and clothes. Watson's personal

clothes were also confiscated with no explanation, including his thermal underwear and sweatshirt. This was

all done so he'd suffer on three days strip cell with nothing in the cell to keep warm with while it was extremely

cold in the cells.

Elijah Bowden

During late autumn and winter FSP officials are required to provide prisoners extra blankets specifically

because the cells become extremely cold.  FSP officials have a set of housing rules in solitary confinement

that require prisoners to have their beds made and to remain fully dressed in pants and shirt from 7 AM to 4 PM

while in their cells. A prisoner may lay on his bed so long as it remains made up.

On November 29th 2017 at around 7:10 AM Elijah Bowden #T0073 was lying on top of his made up bed, but

lying under his extra blanket because the cell was extremely cold.  

Because he was lying under his extra blanket, a guard Econom had Bowden and put on strip cell. To bolster

the pretext for this, Econom lied claiming Bowden was not fully dressed and his bed wasn't made, and he

refused to obey orders to dress and make his bed.  A DR was written to this effect. (DR number 205-172693).

Clearly the accusations against Bowden and presented no threats yet Capt. William Hall and Lieut. Stephen

Thompson put him on strip cell in an extremely cold cell with nothing except his boxer shorts.

Bowden in was so cold that he could not sleep the entire three days and set by the cell door on a steel locker

shivering violently.

On December 27 he filed a formal grievance complaining in part that, "the property restriction was completely

on authorized by [Florida administrative code] rule 33-601.800 (10)(a), (b) and (c) … because I was not doing

anything remotely close to deserving or wanting the action. Nevertheless I almost froze to death for 3 days in

the middle of winter in the cell in violation of the rules while I had been lied on by Officer Econom…”

In response to this grievance assistant warden is acting warden Jeffrey McClelland admitted to the strip sale

torture was imposed for Brown's alleged disobedience as a "management tool." Grievance number

1801-205-002.

Diaunte Byrd

Just as I began writing this article on January 8, 2018 I witnessed yet another prisoner fall victim to strip sell

upon guards lying on him. I listened as Diante bird number T53983 five three nine eight three complained to a

guard C. Collins that he had a medical emergency and needed to see medical staff. Collins told him to shut up

or he was going on strip cell.

Bird persisted that he had a pressing medical problems and announced for the audio surveillance system in the

cellblock that he had a medical emergency, and staff were unresponsive. In turn Collins yelled to birds to pack

up his property because he was going on strip cell.

Collins and Sgt. D Talas rude called Lieut. Stephen Thompson to the wing, who told Bird he wasn't interested

in anything he had to say, and to submit to a strip search and being handcuffed to go on strip sell, or he'd be

gassed. And so it went. Bird complied and was put on three days strip cell.

I listened as the guards concocted a lie that bird had his cell door window covered and refused orders to 

uncover it as a typical pretext for the strip cell. He was then written a bogus DR.

They Got Me Too

On November 21, 2017 a white guard Modi Toyah's had me put on strip sale after trying unsuccessfully the

prior night to do the same, by claiming falsely that I had a sheet covering my back window, after referring to me

as"one of these smart niggers, "and stating that I had crossed "the brotherhood.”

He fabricated a DR claiming I defined his orders to uncover the window. DR number 205-172648

A Culture of Lies and Abuse

It turns out that guards fabricating DR's is any entrenched cultural practice in the FD OC. Whether to have

prisoners punished, to extend their imprisonment, or to justify assaulting them. And it is widespread to because

guards are taught to do it. As the Miami Herald learn from guards, this is part of a”cold" taught by ranking

officials.  As one former guard reported:

"First, they teach you how to write a false DR disciplinary report against an inmate. They tell you how

to write it"Make it stick,” to use certain language.  Disciplinary reports result in loss of privileges and

can also lead to delays in an inmates release… sometimes they will even write it for you-all filled with

lies so that they can save a beat or gassed someone because they deserved it, he said.

Sometimes those reports written by corrections officers have a familiar cadence and wording. (4).

Is that guard reported,"he knew the F DOC was corrupt, but he was unprepared for how things really were.” (5).

And not only is the strip cell torture something that has been going on in the F DOC for a long time. But it was

supposedly ordered stopped upon being exposed as one of many abuse tactics employed by former Wardon

Samuel Culpepper, at the notoriously abusive NW. Florida Reception Ctr.  Where, as the Herald exposed,

prisoners:

We're stripped naked or down to their boxers at the whim of guards and had all their belongings in their

mattresses taken away, then left around the clock on a cold metal bunk for 72 hours or more, with nothing to

hold, not even a Bible… inmates complained that they word shiver, cold and petrified… (6).

Call Pepper, was promoted to a regional director despite the torture and murderous abuse he orchestrated as a

warden. But the "DOC did, however, order Culpeper to"amend"the manner in which he placed inmates on

property restriction. In an email to NWF RC officers in July 2009, Culpepper said, I've been called down on my

interpretation of the rule and instructed to immediately seize utilizing property restriction as a discipline tool.”

“In the future he told subordinates, inmates who fail to make their beds or keep their Excel clean will be

written up in disciplinary reports but not have their belongings taken away.” (7).

So the cold strip sell torture in the FD OC has been previously exposed and ordered discontinued, yet it persists.

Not just this, but to deprive prisoners of protection from extreme cold is to deny their fundamental right to

shelter and is it illegal cool and unusual punishment in violation of the U. S. Constitutions eighth amendment.

(8).  Which is not just a human and civil rights violation but a federal crime. (9)

As already noted, this abuse is going on with the FSP wardens expressed knowledge and approval as

a" management tool." in fact, prisoners suffering this torture are directly observed by all FSP administrative

officials, who make inspections in the cellblock's at least weekly and look in on each prisoner, as do meant to

health staff.   Medical staff made daily rounds. And administrators from F DOC headquarters in regional offices

toward the cellblock, sometimes multiple times per month.

As Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, to understand society society one need only look inside its prisons. I would

add, to understand the nature of a society government one need only look at those who run its prisons. America

is clearly ruled by a criminal fascist dictatorship shrouded in lies in democratic hypocrisy.

Dared to struggle there to win!

All power to the people!

____________

Notes:

1. By prisoners not grieving such abuses there is no record of such patterns of abuse which prove valuable 
   
   in the instance of outside investigations or litigation.
2. See, Kevin received Johnson, lynching culture: Florida officials are experts at killing prisoners by natural
   
   causes, "2017 http://Rashidmod.com\?p=2471
3. Mary Ellen Klass, “Florida prison inspectors detail alleged interference in their investigations,
   
   Miami Herald, June 1, 2016one, inspector general fiasco ads to prison woes, Florida today, May 9, 2015
   
    http://O in. FLA today.com/1B EXT GRT; Julie K Brown, top, accused of thwarting investigations quits
   
   Florida prison system, Miami Herald December 21, 2016
4. Julie K Brown, for allegedly brutal prison guard, day of reckoning arrives, Miami Herald September 20, 2014
5. Ibid
6. Julie K Brown cultural brutality rained at State prison in Florida Panhandle, Miami Herald, March 21, 2014
7. Ibid
8. Federal court rulings on this point are legion C, E. G. Chandler V Baird, 926F. Sit second 1057 the 11th
   
   circuit 1991; Antonelli versus should gone, 80 1F. 3-D 1722, 1733 seventh circuit 1996 no blankets to combat
   
   cold; Murphy V Walker, 50 1F. 3-D 714, 720-two one seven circuit 1995 no clothes, bed or bad clothing in
   
   mid-November; etc.
9. Violation of one's federal civil rights is a crime under 18 US cold sections 242243