[Trending News] Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn suspends friends and family visits until further notice

News 12 spoke with a family member of an incarcerated individual who wanted to remain anonymous but says not being able to visit and not knowing why is causing her to be concerned.

“It feels scary. Like I said, is he alive? Is he breathing? We just want to know that he’s OK. He has family members. He has kids. He has three children and they can’t do anything. We all feel helpless,” she said.

On Saturday, the Federal Bureau of Prisons says there was a fight that required multiple incarcerated individuals to receive medical treatment, and that two of them needed outside treatment.

While prison officials couldn’t confirm if Saturday’s incident is why they’re not allowing visits, they say they’ve been on modified operations since then. They add that if an inmate is seriously ill, family will be notified. But family members are still concerned.

“They’re human beings. Yes they’re being held here but we just want to know he’s OK. He’s older, he has heart conditions. He’s been in the hospital multiple times from being here,” she said.

This is not the first time MDC has closed its doors for social visits. News 12 previously reported the facility closing down for security reasons.

Family members tell News 12 inmates tell them living conditions are poor.

“He tells us that he’s scared. He says that there is you know, there’s always fights. And he’s older. He’s an older gentleman. He tries to stay away, but he says that correction officers aren’t very kind. He doesn’t speak English very well. He only speaks Spanish. So he doesn’t really understand everything or even his rights,” she said.

News 12 has been told inmates still have daily access to three meals a day, water, showers and communication with their loved ones through mail.

Visitors can check here for any updates.