Officer resigns during Central Prison investigation

Beverly Eaves Perdue Governor		Alvin W. Keller Jr. Secretary
North Carolina Department of Correction

For Release:	Contact: Keith Acree
Date: May 20, 2009	Phone: 919 -716-3700

RALEIGH - A correctional officer resigned this morning during an investigation into an unsupervised use of pepper foam this past weekend on inmate Timothy Helms at Central Prison Hospital.

The officer responded to a disturbance at 3 a.m. Saturday and found Helms cursing and beating on the door of the hospital ward he occupies with four other inmates. Helms had left his bed, gotten into his wheelchair and wheeled himself to the door before he began banging on the door.

Helms was not injured in the incident.

"This agency's job is to protect the public safety and the safety of inmates and employees in our facilities," said Secretary Alvin Keller. "I will not tolerate anyone who operates outside of established policies and procedures and puts that safety at risk."

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North Carolina Department of Correction
Public Information Office 4202 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699-4202
Phone (919) 716-3700 Fax: (919) 716-3795 www.doc.state.nc.us