After an altercation at the Bristol County Jail and House of Corrections over coronavirus testing for immigration detainees left three of them hospitalized and involved the sheriff himself, questions remain about what caused the incident, spurring calls for an independent investigation.
Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said he and correction officers were violently rushed by ICE detainees who refused to be moved for COVID-19 testing, while the detainees' laywers allege the detainees were pepper sprayed after requesting to be tested in their unit over fears that a move would expose them to the virus.
Executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts Carol Rose joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to join the chorus of people — including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Rep. Joe Kennedy III — calling for in an independent investigation into the incident.
"There's growing consensus that the facility and Sheriff Hodgson need to be investigated," she said. "My understanding is, we're hoping they'll make the surveillance tapes available, that would be a due process thing to do."
Rose said the incident highlights the power sheriffs have in the law enforcement system, and noted that sheriffs are publicly elected officials.
Editor's Note: On Tuesday, Attorney General Maura Healey announced her office had launched an investigation into the incident, seeking surveillance video and other documents. A state senate committee also announced their own investigation on Tuesday.
