Who lives at 438 Madison? That is a question that should be of concern not just to the inhabitants of that address, but also to all citizens of Alaska, because it was provided to a soon-to-be released prisoner, Mark Nason, by a Correctional Officer, Les McMichael, along with an invitation to "come by and come armed!"
This story begins on the afternoon of Friday, July 31, 1998, when Mod Officer McMichael became incensed at prisoner Robert Abel, a 70-plus year-old, somewhat demented, inhabitant of Echo Module (the Mental Health Unit) at the Spring Creek Correctional Center, for failing or refusing to clean his cell. McMichael determined to take Abel to house I (Segregation Unit).
At this point, stories diverge into two directions, but both reach the same conclusion. Correctional Supervisors and guards say that once McMichael handcuffed the old man's hands behind his back, Abel then fell on his face. Presently, six prisoners claim to have witnessed the incident and they say that once Abel's hands were restrained behind his back, he turned to say something to guard McMichael, who slammed Abel, face first, into the coat rack on the cell wall, then spun him down to the floor.
Who should be believed is up to you. I certainly will not claim to be without bias. However, several additional allegations should be considered. First, I have been given to understand that a Module Orderly was ordered to clean the blood from the coat rack and wall before photographs were taken; second, since this incident has provoked concern in all prisoners at this facility and word of our questions has reached guard McMichael, he has told several prisoners in Echo Module to keep their mouths shut or they will find themselves in the Hole (Segregation Unit); and, finally, from the description of Abel's wounds, he would appear to have bounced when he "fell to the floor on his own."
Either way, that act of this play concludes with Robert Abel, restrained with his hands handcuffed behind his back, bleeding profusely, being hauled to Medical on a Property cart, then rushed to the hospital in Seward for sutures in his forehead and an evaluation for brain damage. Also, either way, McMichael is responsible. If Abel fell, then McMichael neglected to support him after he was restrained; if McMichael shoved Abel into the wall and then to the floor, it was certainly an unnecessary act of violence against a feeble old man.
The story is far from over, however, continuing on Saturday afternoon, when Mark Nason sees guard McMichael leave House II (the cell house containing Echo Module) and cross the yard, heading for the facility's main building. Nason confronted McMichael about his treatment of Abel and, according to Nason, offered to let McMichael have a try at beating him, if McMichael thought he could handle someone more able to fight back. McMichael answers with a question, "You want some of me, too?" Nason then told McMichael that he was getting out in eleven days and would keep McMichael in mind. To this McMichael replied with his address and invitation "438 Madison. Come by and come armed." Nason wrote the address on the palm of his hand and walked away. I watched the confrontation, spoke to Nason moments later, and saw the address inked on his palm.
Setting aside questions about McMichael’s lack of professional ethics and obvious arrogance, I have to ask a more important question: Who lives at 438 Madison? If it is McMichael's home, does he have a family living there who should know that he issued a challenge of armed combat to a man just about to be released from prison after serving time for shooting up a hospital? If McMichael does not live there, and the address actually exists, should the occupants be warned of the possible danger that McMichael has exposed them to?
Holding the rank of "Correctional Officer I," McMichael is considered a Trainee on probationary status and is supposed to be under observation by his superiors and is responsible for reporting unusual activities to his supervisors. Did McMichael report the confrontation with Nason? Doubtful, as Nason is still in open population and, as of today (8/4/98), has not been questioned about it. While McMichael probably has not reported the incident, Mark Nason did describe the confrontation in detail to two House III officers, Paskowitz and Hale, and another prisoner on the evening of 8/3/98.
So, maybe those officers relayed the details to their supervisor and steps are being taken to protect the innocent citizens at that address, but I wouldn't bet on it. Article I Section 12 of Alaska's Constitution may make the protection of the public a primary concern of every Corrections employee, but it is the rare exception who places that obligation above protection of their positions and income. Vigilance, Pride, and Dedication be damned.
Questions tumble to mind; they
are questions appropriately asked of government representatives
by the citizens who vote for them: Was it necessary to hospitalize
a feeble, seventy-plus year-old Robert Abel for failing to clean
his cell? After Sgt. Seton became aware of McMichael’s
restraint and injuries to Abel, did his supervisory responsibilities
include preserving evidence of possible wrong doing, involving
appropriate outside authorities, and were those obligations accomplished?
Is guard McMichael emotionally mature and psychologically suited
to be a correctional professional, and is he still employed by
the Department of Corrections? And, finally, again . . .Who lives
at 438 Madison?