Philly Guard’s Pepper Spray Rampage

⏱ 2 min read

Christopher Knight, 47, a former guard at Philadelphia’s Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, admitted today to a string of brutal, unprovoked attacks on inmates. Over a three-month span in 2023, Knight repeatedly blasted defenseless prisoners with pepper spray – even while they were handcuffed and subdued – then fabricated reports to cover his tracks.

The indictment, unsealed last May, details a sickening pattern. On January 8th, Knight unleashed pepper spray on a prisoner already face down, hands cuffed behind his back, *continuing* to spray even after the man was secured. Just two days later, he targeted another handcuffed inmate being escorted by a fellow guard. Witnesses say the attacks were swift and without any apparent justification.

The abuse didn’t stop there. Court filings reveal Knight pepper-sprayed a third prisoner returning to his cell – again, after the man was restrained. In March, he targeted a fourth inmate simply sitting and writing, and a fifth while he was face down on the floor. Each incident was followed by a falsified use-of-force report designed to protect Knight and conceal the truth.

Knight’s sentencing is scheduled for July 15th. He’s facing a potential 90-year sentence for his actions. The FBI spearheaded the investigation, with crucial support from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Priya DeSouza and Michael Miller are prosecuting the case.