By Corrections1 Staff
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — An inmate has filed a federal lawsuit against a Pennsylvania correctional facility after he was allegedly forced to undergo surgery to remove contraband inserted in his rectum.
The Times Tribune reports that Brian Jesse Willner, 31, has accused officials at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility of conducting an illegal search on him and committing “medical battery.” A syringe, 14 stimulant pills, 40 packets of heroin and rolling papers were found as a result of the procedure.
Willner was booked into the facility on Oct. 22, 2015 after violating his probation. When officers searched him, they noticed a “large white package” protruding from his anus.
The lawsuit alleges that officials took Willner into a hospital and didn’t wait for an X-ray to be completed. It also says that they didn’t wait for doctors to see if he could pass the objects naturally.
The Luzerne County manager and Commonwealth Health spokesperson both declined to comment.