MONTICELLO – A Sullivan
County grand jury has cleared three state corrections officers at the
Sullivan Correctional Facility of any wrongdoing in the death of inmate
Karl Taylor, 51, in April 13.
The grand jury also issued a “no true bill” for 11 other officers
and supervisors, who responded after the initial use of force, of any
criminal charges related to the events of that day.
Sullivan County District Attorney James Farrell released a synopsis of
the evidence obtained in the course of the investigation by his office
and is not a summary of grand jury testimony. The information made public
was derived from a review of police reports, lab reports, physical evidence,
medical reports, the autopsy report and interviews with witnesses.
Taylor was an inmate in a housing block for inmates with behavioral issues.
He was serving a sentence of 25 to 50 years, imposed by Rensselaer County
Court in 1995 for his convictions for several counts of felony rape, sexual
abuse an unlawful imprisonment. He was also ordered to serve a consecutive
2 ½ to five years in prison on a conviction for aggravated harassment
of an employment by an inmate for throwing feces/urine on a corrections
officer at the Southport Correctional facility, while service his sentences
for his sex offenses.
It was determined that Taylor argued with Corrections Officer Bruce Tucker
over the cleanliness of Taylor’s cell. The prisoner, unprovoked
and without warning, punched CO Tucker in the face. Tucker then struck
Taylor with his state-issued baton and a struggle ensued.
Two other CO’s, Steven Witte and Shane Topel, came to Tucker’s
aid. Taylor used CO Tucker’s baton, striking him and breaking his
arm.
With the aid of an escort team of officers, the three corrections officers
escorted Taylor to the facility’s medical unit. Taylor resisted
the escort, dropped to his knees and refused to walk any further, telling
the officers to get him a “cart.” He was then picked up by
the officers and carried to the medical unit where he later died.
An autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Margaret Prial determined
that, while Taylor suffered injuries as a result of his assault, struggle
and fight with officers, his cause of death was due to cardiac arrhythmia
complicating hypertensive cardiovascular disease following a physical
altercation with the corrections officers.
In addition to his broken left forearm, CO Tucker sustained a concussion
and large hematoma to the right side of his head, as well as a swollen
right hand where Taylor struck him with the baton as Tucker attempted
to block the blows.
Tucker has not returned to work and is suffering from post-traumatic stress
disorder as a result of the assault by Taylor. CO Witte, who had swelling
and a large hematoma to the rear of his head following Taylor’s
baton assault against him, also suffered a concussion and is suffering
ongoing neurological impairment. He, too, has not returned to work.
CO Topel suffered physical injury, including a tendon injury to his
finger o0n his right hand as a result of the struggle with Taylor, and
after an absence for physical therapy, has returned to work.
“While I cannot comment on the evidence adduced at the jury, I can
state that all of the corrections officers who were involved in the use
of force and the escort to the medical unit cooperated with the New York
State Police and Sullivan County District Attorney’s investigation
into the death of inmate Karl Taylor,” said DA Farrell.
He said the grand jury heard “much more detailed and extensive testimony
in this case. I cannot, by law, disclose the testimony or any other aspect
of the grand jury’s inquiry. I am satisfied that all of the evidence
in this case was fully and fairly presented to the grand jury.
