|
SBI completes
investigation regarding injuries to inmate Timothy Helms
District attorney finds no basis for charges against prison staff
TAYLORSVILLE – The
State Bureau of Investigation has completed its investigation into
the injuries sustained by inmate Timothy Helms at
Alexander
Correctional
Center.
District Attorney Sarah Kirkman has reviewed the findings and
evidence and determined that no charges will be filed against any
prison staff members.
In
a letter to the SBI, District Attorney Sarah Kirkman wrote “I have
thoroughly reviewed the investigation.
After discussing the case with [the SBI] agents and reviewing
the report, including medical records, witness statements and the
video footage, I recommend that no criminal charges be filed.”
Helms
became injured in the events following a fire that he set in his
cell on August 3rd at approximately 10 p.m.
Video of the incident shows
that Helms was found unresponsive on the cement floor at his cell
door when officers opened that door.
One officer grabbed Helms by the arms and pulled him from the
cell while others moved in to extinguish the fire.
Helms was handcuffed and then confined in a nearby shower
while officers extinguished the fire and evacuated 15 intensive
control inmates from the smoke filled cell block.
He has since been indicted
by a grand jury on charges related to setting the fire.
The
SBI investigation was unable to conclusively determine the cause of
Helms’ injuries, but it did determine these facts:
- Emergency
room physician Dr. Jon Giometti told the interviewing SBI agent
that his notations in the medical record indicating that Helms
has been beaten with a “billy stick” were a recount of the story
Helms told him
- Dr.
Giometti said he did not believe Helms had been abused.
If he had suspected abuse, Giometti said he would have
taken photos, measurements and made sketches of Helms injuries.
Giometti said he did none of those things, since he did
not suspect abuse
- There was
no evidence that Helms had broken ribs.
- Helms
fractured nose was a pre-existing injury and not related to the
fire.
- The story
that Helms has consistently told – that he was beaten by several
officers during a struggle in the cell block where the fire
happened – is not supported by video evidence.
- The
officers assigned to H-block, where Helms was housed, did not
carry batons and in fact were not issued them until a month
after the incident, when they received training on the batons.
Other inmates
who were housed in cells on either side of Helms during the night
after the fire reported that they could hear him moving about in the
cell, since his hand and leg restraints made
- a lot of
noise. Those inmates
report no unusual noises or events through the night and they
reported that Helms made no statements about assault.
- Helms met
with a deputy from the Alexander County sheriff’s office who came to
take a report shortly after the fire.
Helms invoked his right to an attorney and refused to
tell the deputy what had happened.
He did not make any complaints that he had been beaten.
- Helms
made no complaints about being beaten to any prison nursing
staff who treated him after the fire.
Today,
inmate Timothy Helms remains in the hospital at Central Prison where
is receiving physical therapy and has some ability to move his arms
and legs.
#
# #
|
