Local radio personality speaking out about K2 problem in Pa. prisons

A well-known radio personality is using her platform to speak out about the K2 problem at prisons statewide.

WAMO's Kiki Brown says her brother, an inmate at SCI-Greene, unknowingly inhaled smoke from the drug and was allegedly punished -- not treated -- for it.

"It’s OK for an inmate to fall out, but when it affects the staff, now it’s a shutdown situation?" she said. "That’s somebody bringing that in there and how is it only the guards are being affected?

"Inmates are humans, too."

RELATED STORY: 4 more Pa. prison employees sickened after contact with unknown drug

Brown's listeners are also chiming in on the growing problem in Pennsylvania prisons, but she says prisoners are being ignored.

"This is my loved one, and to be out in a hole for 45 days because you ingested something that you did not know?" she said.

Brown said her brother accepted a cigarette from another prisoner in May and became very sick, but didn't know why until he was sent to the prison's medical bay.

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• State warns about synthetic drugs, including K2
• All state prisons in Pennsylvania on lockdown after unknown substance exposures
• VIDEO: State warning about synthetic drugs, including K2
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When tests came back showing K2 in his system, he was punished, she said.

"Denied his hearing. Denied witnesses," she said. "The inmate wrote a statement that he did it and no one wanted to believe him."

Brown said her family wrote a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and other officials but hasn't heard back.

Cox Media Group