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Penticton  

Another inmate sues prison

For the second time in less than four weeks, a lawsuit has been filed against the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver.

An inmate is claiming $35,000 from the prison — the maximum amount for a small claims lawsuit — for alleged injuries sustained from an incident on Oct. 10.

Taylor Verhaegan said, "correctional officer Ozbuker" allegedly threatened him with pepper spray before grabbing him by the throat and throwing him on his bed, and eventually stomping on his hand.

In his claim, Verhaegan said the officer asked him to step out of his jail cell and wouldn't tell him why. Verhaegan said he then requested a correctional supervisor, which is when the officer allegedly threatened him with pepper spray.

The officer then grabbed Verhaegan by the neck and threw him on his bed, according to the claim, which led other officers to intervene.

"My face was being dragged across the concrete bed frame so I extended my hand to push myself off the bar. In this process, Ozbuker stomped on my hand," Verhaegan continued.

He went on to say in his claim that he was arrested afterward and moved into segregation without seeing healthcare, adding he has yet to be told "officially why" the incident happened.

None of the allegations against the prison have been proven in court.

The lawsuit against the prison comes after another inmate, Michael Bradley Telford, filed a lawsuit on Oct. 31 for an injury he sustained while working at the facility.



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