Bernalillo County, NM — A Bernalillo County corrections officer stands accused of facilitating violent attacks on two inmates with mental health conditions, according to a recently obtained police report. The officer, Nathan Shpiller, allegedly allowed or directed assaults on these inmates under his supervision, with security footage reportedly capturing the incidents in the jail’s shower area.
Family speaks out: “These allegations are terrible”
Johanna Sandoval, the mother of one of the inmates, told the newspaper that her son, 61, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and requires daily medication. She said the allegations are “terrible.”
Johanna Sandoval, the mother of one of the targeted inmates, who is 61 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder, condemned the alleged abuse. “These allegations are terrible,” Sandoval told the Albuquerque Journal. Her son, who relies on daily medication, was one of the inmates involved in the reported incidents.
Shpiller specifically targeted individuals with known mental health conditions
Shpiller, who joined the jail as a corrections officer in November 2022, has not been charged but is currently on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
When asked for a comment, Shpiller declined to respond. Jail spokesperson Candace Hopkins also refrained from commenting, citing the ongoing investigation by jail authorities.
In statements to officials, inmates alleged that Shpiller specifically targeted individuals with known mental health conditions. The police report further states that Shpiller may have abused his position by using pepper spray on one inmate, reportedly directing the spray through the food slot while the inmate was alone and unclothed in his cell.
According to the sheriff’s office report, the reported incidents took place in July. Since then, officials have continued to investigate the matter, and security footage remains under review as part of the jail’s internal inquiry.
