Members of the Bradford County Prison Board, including (above, clockwise from left) Sheriff CJ Walters, Commissioner Doug McLinko, Dep. Warden Pete Quattrini, Commissioner Daryl Miller, Warden Don Stewart, and District Attorney Dan Barrett met at the courthouse in Towanda on Oct. 12.
Photo and Story by Rick Hiduk
Just a month after a male prisoner attempted suicide at the Bradford County Correctional Facility in Burlington, another male inmate has been reported dead. A press release from the Commissioners Office states “On October 8, 2017, a male inmate was found unresponsive in his cell…he was transported by EMS to the TMH (Towanda Memorial Hospital) and was later pronounced dead at the hospital, Pennsylvania State Police and Bradford County Coronoer are investigating this incident.”
The matter was also mentioned in the Warden’s Report under the “medical” category. Neither Warden Don Stewart nor Sheriff CJ Walters were able to offer any additional information. Another “medical” issue reported involved the release of a make inmate on parole after he was transported to Robert Packer Hospital on Oct. 7 for heart issues.
Other extraordinary occurrences at the prison included a female inmate listed as J. Weber placed in a restraint chair on three separate instances to prevent her from harming herself. Weber is on constant suicide watch.
Male inmates R. Molina and D. Bashore were remanded to the restricted housing unit on Oct. 7 after they were caught fighting. No officers were harmed in the incident. PSP was notified, but charges were handled in house. PSP was also notified of one male prisoner who “grabbed another male’s butt” and was charged under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
For the first time in a few months, the number of new hires at the prison outnumbered the loss of staff. Eight part-time officers have been hired in the wake of resignations by part-time officer Christopher Sands and full-time officer Travis Winiaviski. New hires include Courtney Reimann, Todd Taylor, Bruce Comereski, John Van Valkenberg, Michael Bucek, Matthew McClain, Travis Snook, and Kyle Thorpe. Other new prison employees include full-time nurse Margret Allen and per-diem nurse Angie Stanton. Amanda Tunnicliff and Elizabeth God were added as full-time cooks.
The Community Workforce Program continued to be a valuable asset for municipalities as well as providing opportunities for inmates with good behavior records the chance to get out of the facility to do some work. Fall brush cleanup in New Albany has recently been completed, as was a one-day flood cleanup in Rome. Ongoing are projects in South Waverly, Wyalusing and at the Animal Care Sanctuary. Warden Stewart read a request from Athens Township for a crew that would work at Round Top Park to mulch the playground and paint guardrails among other tasks.