ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A corrections officer at a New Mexico county jail is accused of orchestrating shower attacks on two mentally ill inmates, according to a police report.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office incident report, obtained by the Albuquerque Journal, said security camera footage showed inmates “attacking other inmates while under the supervision” of the officer, Nathan Shpiller.

Johanna Sandoval, the mother of one of the inmates, told the newspaper that her 61-year-old son is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and requires daily medication. She said the allegations were “appalling”.

Shpiller, an officer at the prison since November 2022, declined to comment. He was not charged.

Candace Hopkins, a prison spokeswoman, also declined to comment, citing an ongoing internal investigation. Shpiller was fired in August and is on paid leave while the department investigates.

Inmates who were involved in the attacks said they believe Shpiller targeted two inmates because of their mental health issues, the newspaper reported.

According to the incident report, the officer is also accused of using pepper spray on one of the inmates while he was alone and empty in his cell. Security footage showed Shpiller repeatedly pointing his pepper spray at the food port of the inmate’s cell, the newspaper reported.

The incidents occurred in July, according to the report.