Family troubled by prison assault

Three correction officers at Newtown jail arrested after Norwich man beat up

Samantha Lugo typically speaks to her nephew Elijah Hamlin of Norwich at Garner Correctional Institute in Newtown nearly every day, phone calls that allow Hamlin to maintain a connection with the outside world.

But there was a time at the end of September that the troubled 25-yearold, with a history of mental illness and a mounting number of criminal arrests, had not called. It was unusual and when more than a week had passed without contact, Lugo said she began to get worried.

Her concern appears to have been justified.

When Hamlin did finally call and Lugo asked what had happened, Hamlin said he had his phone privileges taken after an incident where “three corrections officers beat the (expletive) out of me.” Hamlin but did not elaborate over the recorded line, likely because he feared retaliation at the prison, Lugo said.

Lugo and the rest of her family had been in the dark about details of what had happened until news broke this past week about the arrest of three corrections officers from Garner in connection with the Sept. 25 assault on Hamlin.

“The family had no clue what really took place,” said Hamlin’s grandmother, Darlene Hamlin.

Leaked video of the incident shows Hamlin on the ground and repeatedly punched and possibly kicked.

“I think it’s just inhumane. It’s really sad. I was in tears this morning ... to have one of your loved ones treated this way,” Lugo said.

Lugo said she thinks her nephew was hospitalized as a result of his injuries, but isn’t quite sure since she and Darlene Hamlin never received notification from the Department of Correction. They are both listed as emergency contacts, Lugo said.