More on Father's Day Riot at EOCI

Greetings. My good friend and fellow inmate has informed me of your newsletter. So I am writing you with the enclosed information regarding the "Father's Day Riot" at EOCI, which happened 6/19/05 in EOCI's DSU.

First of all, the situation had been brewing for some time. Officers disrespecting, abusing and assaulting inmates. Several DSU officers would intentionally harass inmates for the sole reason of getting them to "suit-em-up" so they could spray and extract them. During these "extractions" they would then assault the inmate.

So on the fateful morn of June 19th, the following scene occurred:

Officer Pease, a large man of more than three hundred and seventy pounds, was escorting inmate X. Inmate X is nineteen years old and only weighs a hundred and fifty pounds soaking wet. X's hands were cuffed behind his back while he was being escorted down the DSU section 3 hall. Officer Pease, while escorting X, said something to the effect of "You fucking little punk", to which X replied, "Yeah, you're pretty hard when we're cuffed up." At this, per procedure, Officer Pease had X's shirt in his left hand, while holding X's shirt, Officer Pease struck inmate X to the side of the head with a closed fist sending him sprawling to the ground. As X tried to stand up Officer Pease struck him with a closed fist again, and then slammed X into the ground.

After this incident, myself and others attempted to speak with the on-shift Sgt and requested that an investigation be done into the actions of Officer Pease. The Sgt. refused to cooperate and would not call a Lt. or Cpt. to the scene. So, as my misconduct report shows the inmates at EOCI in DSU sections 1,2 and 3 effectively rioted against the terrorist cops that had tormented us.

Gang members united in this struggle, enmities were cast aside, race did not matter, even sex-offenders had participated in this. During this spectacular 12 hour ordeal, EOCI mainline was shutdown (ended up closed for 2 days). Lts, Cpts, Security Managers, Asst. Superintendents and the Superintendent Blacketter herself was called in, effectively destroying all of their precious plans for Father's Day; BBQs were canceled, fishing trips cut short and through it all, the shift Sgt. that could have prevented it all was seen crying several times. Officer Pease? Oh, he got his during the "extraction" of inmate Y, a South Sider, homeboy of inmate X, Officer Pease received a bloody nose and lip.

Over 40 of us were left outside for hours on end in nothing but our underwear, with no shade, and no food. I was finally given a sack lunch at around 11:45 pm, which I was forced to east while in full restraints, belly chain and black box.

As a result of my participation I was fined $400 and possibly will be going to IMU. Last I heard, Officer Pease was put on leave pending an investigation. So, our cause was just and we prevailed.

-- an Oregon prisoner, July 2005