Former corrections officer from South Jersey faces civil rights charge

PHILADELPHIA — A former corrections officer from South Jersey is accused of unlocking a cell door to allow an assault on an inmate at a city prison here.

Ivory S. Cousins, 35, of West Deptford, also allegedly failed to seek medical help for the beaten and bloodied inmate, pepper sprayed him, and then helped another inmate steal his belongings, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia.

A federal indictment alleges Cousins also gave investigators a false account of the August 2019 incident at the Curran-Cromhold Correctional Facility.

It says Cousins unlocked a door to the inmate's cell, allowing several other inmates to enter and assault the man, identified as D.J.

The attack caused severe injuries to D.J.'s face, head and upper body, including a broken nose.

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Cousins did not report the incident or seek medical help for D.J., but instead locked the man in his cell for more than an hour, says the indictment filed in Philadelphia federal court.

When a superior officer approached D.J.'s cell on a routine tour, Cousins positioned herself to block the view of D.J., it says.

It also says that, during the inmate's wait for medical attention, Cousins opened D.J.'s cell door "while another inmate stood behind her with his fists raised, in a fighting stance, facing the cell door."

According to the indictment, D.J. "jumped out of his cell" to confront the inmate, who backed away.

Cousins returned D.J. to his cell, then came back to pepper spray him, it continues.

Authorities claim Cousins next helped an inmate steal something an unidentified item from the cell after D.J. had been removed for medical treatment.

She also allegedly provided false information to the FBI "about the injured inmate being aggressive, engaging in a fight, and using a weapon.

Cousins is charged with violating the inmate's civil rights and lying to the FBI.

The charges are only allegations. Cousins has not been convicted in the case.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Former corrections officer from South Jersey faces civil rights charge