People v. Santiago CA2/6

FACTS

On February 12, 2016, Santiago was a state prisoner at the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi. He shared a prison cell with inmate Miguel Alejo. Prison Correctional Officers Christina Holcomb and Edward Knickerbocker were assigned to the floor where that cell was located. The officers heard a “grrr or groan” coming from the cell block. After investigating the location of that sound, Holcomb went to Santiago’s cell and saw Santiago “on top of” Alejo. Alejo was on his back, Santiago was on top of him, and they were “belly to belly.” Alejo’s feet “were limp.” Santiago’s movements showed “a form of aggression” and his “muscles were tight.” The officers ordered them to stop. Santiago did not respond to that order. Alejo was not moving. Santiago’s body position was “consistent with . . . somebody strangling someone or squeezing some part of [Alejo’s] upper body.” Santiago did not respond to the officers’ orders to get off of Alejo. The officers twice used pepper spray to stop Santiago. Santiago did not respond and did not stop his attack on Alejo. Knickerbocker struck Santiago twice with his baton before Santiago got off of Alejo. A search of Santiago revealed he…