On September 24, 2021, at approximately 2:00 p.m. I was reading quietly on my bunk. Suddenly, several officers came in the a caught three people smoking in the bathroom. Everyone was told to go to their bunks we were going on a lockdown. I walked to a lieutenant and asked if I could use the bathroom, he said no and I want back to my bunk.

 About 10 minutes later Captain Thomas came in and started screaming at everyone, running  up and down the aisles having  people locked up who were trying to ask questions. I was not involved and was not locked up.

About a half hour after they locked the others up we were told they were searching the for the dorm. They started taking  us four at a time to the bathroom  to first search us then we were sent to the dayroom while they searched the dorm. Over an hour had passed. I later heard an officer ask “ does anybody know where William Westervelt is? “ I responded and he handcuffed me and walked me to  confinement.  A young officer who said “I do not know what you did but some big people aren’t happy with you.” I was sent to get you. I had no idea what he was talking about. After arriving at the confinement area I was place a holding sell where all the others who were locked up earlier were waiting for their fate. 

 About 20 minutes later a captain comes in and tells the officer to “ bring Westervelt up front to the single man cell by the main office.” 

There were numerous phone calls and muted conversations about me taking place over the next 4 hours. A black sergeant came to the cell and said “ I don’t know what you got going on, on the outside but you need to stop before something bad happens.” I asked him what he was talking about be he walked away. 

A tall young white officer came over to the cell and said Westervelt “ I don like what’s going on bit there is nothing I can do. But do you believe in God? Said yes. He said well then believe this will all work out for the better. He visited me several times. I will not mention his name for anonymity. 

During this period, in the holding cell Captain Perry had been involved in seven conversations about me. At about 10:00 p.m. he came and he took me out of the cell and brought me to my confinement cell. I thought this was strange because captains usually do not do this. When he got me in to the cell he stated “ you listen up, if you want to make out of here alive you and your family need to stop messing with the people in Tallahassee.” 

Over the next week I was denied my one phone call, they gave me no property depriving me of my eye glasses and other personal items. After a week they came for me on Thursday, 9/30/21, at 10:30 a.m., claiming it was for a D.R. hearing. They brought me back up to the same holding cell but he offices. There were three people in the office, I only recognized one, an administrator. There was also a Lieutenant I had never seen before. A woman wearing street clothes. After a few minutes I was called into the office. I was then asked about “ any issues I had with state classification officer Ms. Williams.” After explaining what took place of my highly questionable transfer from Moore Haven. Ms. Williams stated she was the final decision maker.  However,  on a previous discussion Mr. Workman told my family that Mr. Parker is the classification officer for that region but he must have been on vacation during this time frame? It must have been a mistake on his part.  I was then asked about  Sgt. Penny Sullivan and the Dade CI attack. Upon finishing, I was sent back to the holding cell. Shortly, after Mr. Anderson came back and over the 30 to 45 minutes numerous phone call wee made and conversations took place. I was told this is exactly what’s going on. 

The letters and emails your family sent to the people in Tallahassee has literally made it to every single branch of the FDC.  Mark Inch ordered an investigation into the claims. Things would only get worse the Sgt. Penny Sullivan started calling on my behalf and then you this them Moore Haven and Classification with the 119 requests from the Attorney and the family. 

Rather than FDC do the right thing and help me as I was one who saved a life of a Sgt. FCD employee, FDC circled the wagons and are protecting Ms. Williams in Classification and the OIG involved in the cover up  that has appeared to have take place. 

I was told it has been decided to give me a D.R. a contrived charge of starting a riot. There was never a riot.  Of course the videos would prove that this was not true. I would be found guilty and given 30 days confinement and 60 days loss of gain time. My family has received 2 letters and a phone call from inmates in the PM unit substantiating  my innocence. These inmates felt very strongly about what really happened and were mad when they realized,  I was found guilty of something I was not a part of. They were upset because it could easily happen to any one of them if there is a target on their back by some volatile staff. They asked my family to speak to the press and the advocacy group Florida Cares Charity about how bad the PM unit is at Wakulla. 

I was told by the administration, as long as I don’t make any further attempts to push the issue against Ms. Williams and the 119 Requests and the Dade C.I. attack, they will not send me to C.M.. Also, it was clear they were listening to my phone call as they knew Sgt. Penny Sullivan was very interested in finding an attorney to sue FDC due to the attack and IG not interviewing her until 2 years later and not keeping her informed on the process amongst a myriad of other issues. Penny knows there is a viable case but will be more powerful with my PLRA suit.  I was told by my family it appears Sgt. Penny Sullivan is lawyering up. 

The next day October 1, 2021 they brought me some of my property. Despite my request asking disparately for my eye glasses, they did not give me my glasses for many days.  My family emailed the AW Rummel pleading to give me my eye glasses. They brought me my radio with out my headphones and pillaged though all my legal work. They are claiming most of my property was stolen. I know this is not true because, my family was told by the inmate who called them that he scooped up my scattered property and belongings, the day the guards ransacked the unit, had placed the contents back in my locker and locked up with my combination lock. It was the next day that another guard came in and demanded an inmate break the lock off of the locker. The lock was smashed off and the guard removed the contents of the locker in a white bag and a blue bag. 

While I am in confinement, I was taunted repeatedly by a certain captain. On October 6, 2021/ October 7, 2021 between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. this captain has my lights turned on in my cell and started beating on my door. He was screaming “ I tried to tell you something good but you don’t want to listen”  he walked away. Cameras will reflect this 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. Dorm J-3. I have no clocks so I don’t know the exact time. 

On that same day, I was seen by a mental health counselor and explained my story to her. I told her I was angry that I have been targeted and demonized recently when I was treated with respect only weeks before and approved for a positive transfer to an incentive camp. That is what was what state classification told my family the third week In August. 

Later that day,  I was then visited by Ms. Castano my classification officer. She said that Mr. Gould will not be meeting with me and I am not getting transferred to the incentive camp. She wanted me to sign a document and I refused. She stated that, “did I really think I was going to receive special treatment for saving a nigger from Miami?” I was so sickened by her remarks. My family has become friendly with former Sgt. Sullivan and she is a sweet Godly woman. My sister and her speak once a week. I could not believe Ms. Castano was so cold and heartless. Apparently, she has that reputation with the other families of inmates as well, I was told by my sister. 

On October 9, 10-9-21 inmate Leiva was released from jail and he received no DR for the so called riot. 

Please review these videos recording as they will substantiate my claims. 

Video Recording will depict the events of my ordeal. 

Place: Dorm M. Wing 1.

Date: September 24, 2021

Time: 12:00 p.m. thru 5:00 p.m. 

4 Video monitors 

Place: Dorm J Hallway Entrance and wing 2 & 3

Date: September 24, 2021 

Time 12:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m.

Place: Dorm J, Wing 3 and Hallway Entrance 

Date: September 30, 2021 

Time: 9:30 a.m. thru 1:00 p.m.