A lawsuit has been filed against the Okanagan Correctional Centre over an alleged stabbing, making it the second this week and the third in about a month.
This lawsuit, filed by inmate David James McHale, alleges he was assaulted on Sept. 9 by another inmate, which he names Gagne Ighani.
鈥淚 was sitting in our unit yard with two other inmates. There were two other sectioned groups with the health care unit at the time. I am a PC (protective custody) inmate, with a section 18 designation,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his means I am to be in a protected situation at all times.鈥�
The second lawsuit filed against Correctional this week. This time over an alleged stabbing of an inmate in protective custody.
鈥� Dustin Godfrey (@dustinrgodfrey)
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McHale alleges an officer Shah (inmates do not have access to officers鈥� first names) came into the yard and suggested the yard be locked up, because he was going to serve other inmates brunch.
鈥淲e asked to stay in the yard, locked up. Officer Shah agreed and left to serve brunch,鈥� McHale wrote in his small claims lawsuit.
鈥淯nknown to us, officer Shah forgot to lock the yard door. After a few minutes, the door opened and inmate Ighani burst in. He looked around and focused on me. He came towards me,and proceeded to stab at me with a sharp shank and punch my head.鈥�
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McHale said Ighani cut his hands, arm and shirt before officer Shah returned and told Ighani to return to his cell.
McHale was taken to the medical officer, where his wounds were addressed, and he was asked if he would like to make a police statement.
He was reportedly given an RCMP file for what he called an 鈥渁ggravated assault,鈥� which has since caused him duress.
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鈥淭his aggravated assault has caused me tremendous anxiety and stress. I have nightmares and don鈥檛 sleep very well now,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his is a serious corrections breach. My safety was jeopardized.鈥�
McHale is seeking $25,156 in damages from the jail.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, the same day another lawsuit was filed against the jail over an alleged assault on an inmate by a corrections officer, but details were only made available on Friday.
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In the other lawsuit, a man accused in a 2014 robbery claimed a corrections officer grabbed him by the throat and threw him down, after he asked for a corrections supervisor.
He claimed he was put in segregation for some time before he was returned to his cell with no explanation for the incident.
Yet another lawsuit was filed on Oct. 31 against the jail, after an inmate reportedly ran over his heel with a meal cart. He claimed he was not given proper medical attention.
Each of those lawsuits are calling for $35,000 in damages, with all three adding up to over $95,000.
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dustin.godfrey@pentictonwesternnews.com
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