Baltimore corrections officers indicted; one accused of choking inmate until she passed out [View all]

A Baltimore grand jury has indicted three correctional officers on charges of misconduct, and one of them for allegedly choking an inmate who refused orders at the Central Booking and Intake Center.

The inmate, Amber Canter, sat on the floor and refused to move in June 2019. Surveillance cameras captured Officer Zanel Santana yank Canter up in an illegal choke hold, prosecutors wrote in the indictment. “Canter can be seen on the video immediately grabbing towards [her] neck, as [she] was unable to breathe,” prosecutors wrote. “Within at least seven seconds after being placed in the choke hold by CO II Santana, Canter’s body and legs went limp.”

Canter suffered severe bruises and fractures to her face, including her eye socket, they wrote. Santana and Officer Ochenna Okeke are accused of dragging the unconscious Canter away. Santana, Okeke and a sergeant filed reports about the encounter, but omitted mention of the choke hold or that Canter passed out, according to prosecutors. Online court records did not list their attorneys.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-corrections-officers-indicted-20210331-7pe7wt2mavbina4edeqcaufkvq-story.html