Lost time is an irregular column IDOC Watch publishes exposing corruption and mistreatment by Disciplinary Hearing Boards, Conduct Adjustment Boards, and parole/probation officers in the Indiana prison system, which often results in incarcerated peoples’ sentences being unfairly extended.
My Day of Liberation
My name is Charles Rodgers. I am currently housed at Miami Correctional Facility. I am currently housed in a cell with Brother Khalfani Malik Khaldun, who encouraged me to share some of the injustices that have occurred to me in the past year.
On October 16, 2020 around 3pm, a National Guardsmen who was working N-housing came over my intercom and asked me could I help defuse a situation that was occuring on the 3/4 side. He opened my cell door and allowed me to cross over to try to defuse the situation. The damage was already done.
Once I tried to return back to my side I was met by Sergeant Justin McCray and his K-9. I immediately put my hands up and backed up. I have a phobia of K-9s because I have been attacked in the past. Sgt. McCray started yelling and cursing and ordered me to lock down. I tried to explain to him that I did not live on that side and that I wasn’t involved in the altercation that took place. He then stated, “I don’t give a fuck, get your ass on the ground!” He then started approaching me, lunging his K-9 at me. I put my hands back in the air and stated to Sgt. McCray, “I am not resisting and you can handcuff me and take me back to my side. But I am not getting on the ground with that dog so close.”
With my hands still in the air, Sgt. McCray ordered Sgt. Callaway to mace me, which he did. I immediately turned my back to the officers and stated, “You’re wrong, I am not resisting sir. You do not need to mace me. I’m not getting on the ground with the K-9 so close. You can cuff me and take me back.” With my hands in the air and my back still turned toward the officers, Sgt. McCray ordered his K-9 to attack me, which it did. The K-9 bit my left leg first. I turned back towards the officers and stated, “You’re wrong, I am not resisting sir. I’m not getting on the ground with the K-9 so close. You can handcuff me and take me back.” With my hands still in the air, I was maced again. I once again turned my back toward the officers and was attacked a second time by the K-9. Sgt. Justin McCray wrote me up on a Class A-111 Attempted Assault on Staff (K-9) Conduct Report.
I was initially taken to Segregation but then was placed in the infirmary due to my injuries, where I received 7 stitches to the bites and claw marks on my left leg and buttock area.
While in the infirmary on 10/26/20, I witnessed Ofc. A Goodridge and Sgt. Justin McCray enter the unit for reasons unknown. Ofc. A. Goodridge was the officer assigned to conduct a disciplinary hearing for the Class A Attempted Assault on Staff (K-9) charge. She pointed in my direction and Sgt. McCray started laughing. In this moment I knew that Ofc. A. Goodridge would cover up for Sgt. McCray’s Malfeasance. I wrote numerous requests in an attempt to have a different officer conduct my hearing but I was denied.
On this exact same day, Ofc. Goodridge was allowed to review the video evidence I requested with Sgt. McCray, in which she gave false and misleading statements of the video summary in order to find me guilty.
On 11/6/2020 during my Disciplinary Hearing Board (DHB) hearing for the Attempted Assault on Staff, Ofc. A. Goodridge never presented any of the witness statements or any of the evidence she used to find me guilty. I asked several times for the copies and she ignored me. Ofc. Richardson can bear witness to this unfair trial because she was my Lay Advocate at the hearing.
As a result of this I was placed in Segregation for 40 days with a year pending. I lost 180 days good time, and was demoted a credit class. My visitation was taken for a year, 90 day commissary and phone privileges lost, and as a slap in the face I received a written reprimand not to attempt to assault a K-9 again.
I went thru mental stress and severe depression because of this incident but yet I persevered. I’ve continued to move forward with a positive state of mind and positive actions while educating myself in the process.
I have since started a nonprofit called Painting Prayers from Prison with the intent of helping prisoners who have no help. I would like to be a voice for the voiceless.
If you would like to help me along the journey, you can contact me by setting up an account at web.connectnetwork.com and looking me up in the Indiana Department of Correction database, or you can write to me by regular mail.
Charles Rodgers #136164
IDOC / MCF
3038 W 850 S
Bunker Hill, IN 46914
Thank you all & May blessings be upon you!
