Fay Report Annex: Statement of Specialist, 229th Military Police Company Internal Reaction Force, Abu Ghraib Prison re: Allegations of Detainee Abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison

Error message

  • Deprecated function: Return type of DBObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 7 of /usr/home/documentafterliv/public_html/sites/all/modules/contrib/eck/eck.classes.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DBObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 7 of /usr/home/documentafterliv/public_html/sites/all/modules/contrib/eck/eck.classes.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DBObject::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 7 of /usr/home/documentafterliv/public_html/sites/all/modules/contrib/eck/eck.classes.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DBObject::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 7 of /usr/home/documentafterliv/public_html/sites/all/modules/contrib/eck/eck.classes.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DBObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 7 of /usr/home/documentafterliv/public_html/sites/all/modules/contrib/eck/eck.classes.inc).

Interviewee was a member of the Internal Reaction Force, on stand-by for any future incidents at Abu Ghraib prison. On the evening of the riot, the Spc. recounted an incident of abuse, stated: "We were told a prisoner gained access to a handgun and had fired at an American guard." When the Spc. arrived at the location of the shooting he observed "The prisoner was lying prone on his stomach, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, flex-cuffed behind his back with a sandbag over his head. The prisoner was not resisting in any way. One soldier was standing next to the left side of the prisoner's head with the barrel of his rifle pressed against the prisoner's head. I observed this [other] soldier begin to strike the prisoner in the small of the back with a closed fist. The soldier struck the prisoner approximately 10 times. The soldier then stood up and kicked the prisoner in the right hip and right side approximately three times."

Doc_type: 
Interview
Doc_date: 
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Doc_rel_date: 
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Doc_text: 

SWORN STATEMENT
For use of this form, see AR 190-45; the proponent agency ii ODCSOPS
• PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
'HORITYT Title 10 USC Section 301, Title 5 US:: Section 2951; E 0. 9397 dated November 22. 1943TiSSNr.
..NCIPAL PURPOSE:TTo provide commanders and law enforcement officials with means by wruch information may b. accurate',
ROUTINE USES: Your social security number is used as an additional/alternate means of idenufseation to tacilita -e riling and ristiis,a1
DISCLOSURE:TDisclosure of your social security number is voluntary
I. LOCATION .. 2.CA -E tvvvvmaADD) 3TTIME 4 FILE NUMBER
ABU GHRAIB PRISON. ABU GHRAIB, IRAQ.122004/01r2.0 10+

E NAME 6.SSN. 7. GRADE/STATUS SPC
ANIZATION
229TH Military Police Company, Virginia Beach, VA (deployed to Abu Climb. Iraq)

9.
WANT TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT UNDEF OATH:
On the day in which the Abu Ghraib Prison saw the prisoners riot for the first tune, 1, as a member of the totem' Reaction Force
for the prison, was on stand-by for any future incidents .On that night we were called and instructed to go to the hard site and
assist the unit running it No other information was known until we arrived and were briefed by a senior enlisted soldier. .We
were told that a prisoner had gained access to a handgun and had fired at an American guard. We were instructed that the unit
responsible for the hard site wanted our unit to conduct a search of every cell. We entered through the north entrance of the hard
site and went to the first bay on the left. We went immediately upstairs and began to search the cells..I was on the top deck with
other members of my team when I heard a man screaming from the first deck. I was on the south side of the bay and I looked back
to the northwest corner of the bay, through the open center, and observed two soldiers and a prisoner. The prisoner was lying
prone on his stomach. dressed in an orange jumpsuit, flex-cuffed behind his back with a sandbag over his head. .The prisoner wa,
not resisting in any way. One soldier was standing next to the left side of the pnsoner's head with the barrel! of his rifle pressed
against the prisoner's head. .I observed the other soldier kneeling next to the right side of the prisoner at approximately waist level.
I observed this soldier begin to strike the prisoner in the small of the back with a closed fist..The soldier struck the prisoner
approximately ten timesTThe soldier then stood up and locked the prisoner in the right hip and right side approximately three
times..1 observed that this soldier was a white male with blond hair, cut very close on the sides with a flat-top style on top. This
soldier was wearing a solid, olive-green vest with two pouches on the left and right sides at the rcar, at the bottom of the vest .I
c not able to identify this soldier until I observed him several days later in the dining facility and saw that he was.I
1 • • • II • . .• ..tai.. - ...0• • - - •• • • • • • • . incident wer
ave since r:.the
.........-...-a.,.
Q..Do you know the date of the incident?
A.No, sir I do not.I believe it was in Nov 03
Q.When were you assigned to the IRP

IA..Aug 03.
I Q..Did you observe the detainee resisting at any time before. during or after the incident in question?

A.
.No, sir.
.Q. Do you know who the soldier was with the weapon?

A.
.No, sir..He never looked up..I could not-see his face.
Q.Can you describe the soldier with the weapon"'

A..Other than white male, no sir.
Q..Was there any other soldiers obseving this incident?
A..From my location I could not tell if anyone was observing what I saw
Q..Did anyone frrn your team observe the incident?
A..1 are not sure, sir.
Q.
.How long did the incident last?

A.
No more than fve nunutes.

Q.
What were you doing when this was going on?

A..Searching the south side of the second deck. .I heard the screaming while conducting the searches. I looked down at the
incident..I continued with the searches glancing down at the incident and at some ?Dun they had stopped the prisoner and moved
him from my view.

Q. Did anyone say anything to this CPT?
A..Not that I saw.
Q..Did you report this to anyone other than this office?
10..EXHIBIT. 1.II.I ON MAKING STATEMENT PAGE I OF .-. PAGES
OITIONAL PAGES MUST CONTAIN THE HEADING 'STATEMENT TAKEN AT DATED
1HE BOT7OM OF EACH ADDITIONAL PAGE MUST BEAR THE INITIALS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE STATEMENT, AND PAGE NUMBER
MUST BE BE INDICATED.
USA. • V I 00
DA FORM 2823. JUL 72. IS OBSOLETE
DA FORM 2823, DEC 1998

cf.(."
AG0000349

.• .
STATEMENT OF T ;(4.. 11-4)0.0..DATED._72-'° JAN "I
nlIlljIIIIFTAKEN AT 9 STATEMENT 1Connnued)
AFFIDAVIT
HAVE READ OR HAVE HAD READ TO ME THIS STATEMENT
WHICH BT-AGE 1, AND ENDS ON PA • T: FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS OF THE ENTIRE STATEMENT MADE
BY ME. THE STATEMENT IS TRUE. I HAVE INITIALED ALL CORRECTIONS AND HAVE INITIALED THE BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE

CONTAINING THE STATEMENT. i-i4,V€ t.1;,(3C 7-9;!;2 ;idi•Er c;:f2of, ftEwsst;; v
THREAT OF PUNISHMENT, AND WITHOUT COERCION, ••.;: t2 ;IL :*7.,'-rf.AMiNT

n4wi ¦ n; SNe!nr:-7
2
Subscribed and sworn to before me. a person authonted by law to
WIT N ES S ES:
administer oaths. this 7_0 day of -Tri_r•
(..s4ec.:4 b n4 to , I fen

ORGANIZATION OR ADDRESS
(Typed Name of Person Adrneusienng
A 0:1Tt UTLA C
ORGANIZATION OR ADDRESS lAurnonry To Aornousrer Oeinsi

INITIALS OF•PERSON IN TATEMENT
PAG E •F PAGES
3 3,
US••• V I 00
PAGE 3, DA FORM 2827, DEC 1998
o ;I. al., L
Yah-
AG 0 000351
Statement aken on 20 Jan 04, at the Abu Ghraib Pnson, Abu Ghraib, Iraq
llitt 4110
a.
A. Not officially. I discussed it with certain members of the HU as a whole.
Q. Was the CPT striking the detainee with an open or closed fist?
A. Closed fist.
Q. Did you see what led up to this incident?
A. No, sir.
Q. Could you hear what was being said to the detainee?
A. No, sir.
Q. Could you describe the detainee?
A. Male, dark hair and an orange jumpsuit.
Q. Where exactly was the detainee struck?
A. The detainee was struck in the small of the back by the CPT. He was using his right hand.T•
Q. After you finished your search did you see the detainee again?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you see the CPT in the isolation area again?
A. No, sir.
Q. Have you witnessed any other incidents of concern?
A. In September of 2003, when we first arrived at the prison complex, I obsered that the prisoners at the compounds were receiving punishment in the Tof being forced to kneel on gravel until their knees were bleeding. I stoTd this umTcnt whenever I observed it and brought it to the attention o f the IRF commander. This type of punishment stopped. Also in
eeptemberTI obse d an MI soldier choke and strike a prisoner in the presence o This incident was r orted to my chain of command. Sworn statements were written and presented to T I heard nothing more from this incident.
Q. Do you know what action was taken on the second incident?
A. I was not present when it was discussed. 1 heard that MI personnel came over and apologized for their actions.
Q. Have you heard of any other incidents of maltreatment towards the detainees?
A. The same night the CPT struck the detainee, I heard ont of the navy dogs had !linen a prisoner that was flex-i-cuffed and was not resisting.
Q. o ou know who witnessed this incident?
A.
T vas the dog handler whose dogs bit the detainee.

Q.
Do you know the details of this incident?

A.
No, sir.

Q.
Do you have anything else to add to your statement?

A.
No, sir.///END OF STATEMENT///

Initial. Page 2 of 3. Pages
U. .4- 0^t
AG0000350

1.-)1,...%-..t . ....... c•.,....,.,_i,,....,

•.

4,,,a.
sioerben. of taken on 20 Jan 04, at the Abu Ghraib Prison, Abu Ghraib, Iraq
A. Not officially. I discussed it with certain members of the !RF as a whole.
Q. Was the CPT striking the detainee with an open or closed fist?
A. Closed fist.
Q. Did you see what led up to this incident?
A. No, sir.
Q. Could you hear what was being said to the detainee?
A. No, sir.
Q. Could you describe the detainee? .
A. Male, dark hair and an orange jumpsuit.
Q. Where exactly was the detainee struck?
A. The detainee was struck in the small of the back by the CPT. He was using his right hand.
Q. After you finished your search did you see the detainee.again?
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you sec the CPT in the isolation area again?
A. No, sir.
Q. Have you witnessed any other incidents of concern?
A. In September of 2003, when we first arrived at the prison complex, I observed that the prisoners at the compounds were receiving punishment in the way of being forced to kneel on gravel until their knees were bleeding. I stopped this punishment whenever I observed it and brought i . to the attention of
4111111111, the IRF commandei. This type of punishment stopped. Also in September of 2003 I o served r chnlee Anti cirike. A priSalleLinjhg_-.
presence oT This incident was reported to my chain of command.
Sworn stat ments were written and presented to I heard
nothing more from this incident
Q. Do you know what action was taken on the second incident?
A. I was not present when it was discussed. I heard that MI personnel carne over and apologized for their actions.
Q. Have you heard of any other incidents of maltreatment towards the detainees?
A. The same night the CPT struck the detainee, I heard one of the navy dogs had bitten a prisoner that was flex-i-cuffed and was not resisting. •
o kn wl o t essed this incident?
Q.
A.
T was the dog handler whose dogs bit the detainee.

Q.
Do you ow the details of this incident?

A.
No, sir.

Q.
Do you have anything else to add to your statement?

A.
Nu, sir./1/END OF STATEMENT///

5-17 poo 3 1111
Initial 0 Page 2. of 3 Pages
e n,. el Z.
AG0000352

Doc_nid: 
2999
Doc_type_num: 
73