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A corrections officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, is under investigation for allegedly orchestrating attacks on two inmates who suffer from mental illness. The officer, Nathan Shpiller, has been with the jail since November 2022. He is currently on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to a police report obtained by the Albuquerque Journal, security camera footage showed inmates attacking other inmates under Shpiller's supervision. The incidents reportedly occurred in July. One of the victims, a 61-year-old man diagnosed with bipolar disorder, requires daily medication. His mother, Johanna Sandoval, described the allegations as "terrible."
In addition to the orchestrated attacks, Shpiller is also accused of using pepper spray on one of the inmates while he was alone and naked in his cell.
Inmates involved in the attacks believe Shpiller targeted the two victims because of their mental health issues. Shpiller has declined to comment on the allegations, and no charges have been filed against him as of yet. Candace Hopkins, a spokesperson for the jail, also declined to comment, citing an ongoing internal investigation.