New Mexico Jail Officer Accused of Inmate Mistreatment

A New Mexico county jail officer is accused of orchestrating attacks on two mentally ill inmates in a shower in July, as per a police report. Security footage obtained by the Albuquerque Journal reportedly shows inmates attacking others under the observation of Nathan Shpiller, a corrections officer, per the incident report. The mother of one inmate, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, called the accusations "terrible."

Shpiller, who joined the jail in November 2022, has not been charged. Despite being approached for comment, both Shpiller and a jail spokesperson, Candace Hopkins, declined to make statements. Hopkins cited an ongoing internal investigation, noting Shpiller was removed from duty in August and is currently on paid leave. Inmates involved in the attacks alleged they were targeted due to their mental health status. Adding to the allegations, the officer is also accused of misconduct involving pepper spray. Reports allege Shpiller used the spray on an inmate alone in his cell, with surveillance footage allegedly showing that he repeatedly aimed pepper spray into a cell's food port. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)