ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A corrections officer at a county jail in New Mexico is facing serious allegations for reportedly orchestrating assaults on two mentally ill inmates in the facility’s shower area, as detailed in a police report.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office incident report, which has been reviewed by local media, indicates that surveillance footage appears to show inmates attacking others while under the watch of Officer Nathan Shpiller.

The mother of one of the targeted inmates, Johanna Sandoval, shared with the press that her 61-year-old son has a bipolar disorder diagnosis and requires regular medication to manage his condition. Sandoval expressed her outrage, labeling the accusations as “terrible.”

Since joining the jail staff in November 2022, Shpiller has chosen not to make any statements regarding the allegations and has yet to face any formal charges.

Candace Hopkins, a representative of the jail, also refrained from commenting on the matter, pointing to an ongoing internal investigation as the reason for her silence. Shpiller was taken off his duties in August and is currently on paid leave while the inquiry unfolds.

Inmates who participated in the reported attacks indicated that they believed Shpiller had deliberately targeted the two individuals due to their mental health vulnerabilities, according to the local newspaper.

In addition to the incidents in the shower, the report includes claims that the officer used pepper spray against one inmate while he was alone and unclothed in his cell. Security video purportedly shows Shpiller repeatedly directing pepper spray into the food port of the inmate’s cell.

The reported incidents took place in July, marking a troubling situation within the correctional facility.