Prosecutor asks ISP for more investigation on jail pepperball incident

SOUTH BEND — St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak has asked the Indiana State Police to further investigate some matters related to the Oct. 8, 2008, incident at the St. Joseph County Jail in which prison guards fired pepperballs at inmates. The state police on March 15 turned over the results of their investigation to the prosecutor’s office. After reviewing the results, it appears that additional questions need to be answered before it can be determined whether any crimes were committed or if there is evidence to charge anyone with a crime, Dvorak said today in a written statement. "I have contacted the Indiana State Police investigator assigned to this matter and requested that he further investigate the additional issues that we identified in this case," he said. How long additional investigation may take isn’t clear. Dvorak said he’ll determine a timetable for a decision by his office after he receives the additional results. The investigation involves allegations of five guards trafficking forbidden items with inmates, including illegal drugs, tobacco and cell phones. The matter came to light after inmates told The Tribune of being shot at by guards on Oct. 8, 2008, with guns loaded with pepperballs. The officers fired after inmates in Pod B were told to step out of their cells for a lice check. The County Sheriff’s Department handled the investigation for a year, according to Sheriff Frank Canarecci, then asked the state police to step in and take over the investigation. Staff writer Margaret Fosmoe: mfosmoe@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6329