Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 28 February 2018

Prison work boot sales halted after guard kicked, killed

By MARK SCOLFORO postings in inmate housing their cells.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A units, commissary windows New Jersey prison officials
Pennsylvania prison offi- and all inmate common said that for the past de-
cial said Tuesday the sale areas. The department has cade inmates have been
of work boots at all prison not taken away boots in- allowed to wear work boots
commissaries was halted mates already own. only when they are working
because an inmate is ac- "They're trying to figure out outside, in the kitchen or on
cused of killing a guard by where to go from this point," a maintenance crew, and
knocking him to the floor said Corrections spokes- the boots must be taken
and kicking him in the head woman Sue McNaughton. off when they are not on
with a boot. "Certainly the hard-soled the job. McNaughton said
The prison guards' union shoes have been an issue." a check with other state
wants to ban work boots Safety issues regarding in- prison officials indicated
in prisons outright following mates with boots have aris- some do not allow boots,
the Feb. 15 beating of Sgt. en in other states. A Califor- some limit them to work
Mark Baserman, who died nia inmate was sentenced crews or inmates living
of his injuries Monday. to life last month for stomp- outside restricted housing,
The Corrections Depart- ing to death his cellmate, some do not allow boots
ment said it imposed the shattering his skull with work with metal toes and some
sales ban after employees boots. A federal appeals permit them and have had
at Somerset State Prison, panel in 2012, writing about no problems.Pennsylvania
where Baserman was at- an inmate-on-inmate as- authorities said lifer Paul Ja-
tacked, raised the safety sault in which one was won Kendrick, 22, attacked
issue of boots last week in badly hurt by a steel-toed Baserman over the guard's
a meeting with administra- This undated photo provided by the Pennsylvania Department boot, said they were mys- confiscation of a towel
tors. of Corrections shows correctional officer Sgt. Mark Baserman, tified why a federal prison Kendrick had used to block
who state officials say died Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, 11 days after
All prison system facilities he was assaulted by an inmate at a state prison in Somerset, Pa. in Illinois required inmates the view of his bunk. Ken-
were notified, including (Pennsylvania DOC via AP) to wear the boots, even in drick, who was arraigned
on assault charges the
North Carolina: same day Baserman died,
struck him repeatedly in the
Arrest made in shooting captured on Facebook head, state police said in a
charging affidavit.
"The defendant walked
WINGATE, N.C. (AP) — A der. unanswered Tuesday after- The camera hit the ground over and kicked Baserman
North Carolina man was Union County Sheriff's Of- noon. after gunshots and showed in the head, as he was try-
charged Tuesday with a fa- fice spokesman Tony Un- Wingate Police Chief Don- sky and trees, and the gun- ing to recover from the
tal shooting captured live derwood confirmed Col- nie Gay told WCCB-TV that man running away. A car floor, rendering him com-
on Facebook not far from a son was charged in the Robinson had been to the pulled up and found Rob- pletely unresponsive," po-
town's police department. death of Prentis Robinson, police department minutes inson. lice alleged. McNaughton
Jail records show Douglas but referred other ques- before the shooting Mon- The shooting happened said Kendrick was wearing
Cleveland Colson was be- tions to the Wingate Police day morning and spoke near Wingate University boots.
ing held without bond on a Department. The police with the chief about a cell- and Wingate Elementary Authorities said the attack
charge of first-degree mur- department's phone rang phone that had been sto- School in the town about on Baserman, which also
len from him. 30 miles southeast of Char- injured another guard who
According to video posted lotte. Both were temporar- came to his aid, was entire-
by The Charlotte Observ- ily locked down Monday ly captured on videotape.
er, Robinson was walking during the investigation. State police said Tuesday
down a street and broad- Robinson’s Facebook ac- they were preparing ho-
casting himself live on count described him as a micide charges against
Facebook with a selfie stick musician who lived in At- Kendrick and planned to
Monday when the shoot- lanta. The Charlotte Ob- file them when he next ap-
ing happened. server reported that Robin- pears in court on March 9.
At one point, he was heard son lived in Charlotte during The Pennsylvania prison sys-
saying "You on live," appar- the previous decade but tem has for many years al-
ently telling another person spent much of his adult life lowed inmates to purchase
the conversation was be- in Wingate and graduated boots from the commis-
ing recorded. The person is from a local high school. saries, and some inmates
seen with a long black ob- No phone listing could be have jobs that require the
ject and then shots ring out. found for Colson.q boots.q