Three York County Prison guards are being criminally charged by state police after they allegedly organized a wrestling match between two inmates in a storage closet and other challenges one inmate called the “Retard Olympics.”

The challenges included the guards asking inmates to drink a gallon of milk in one hour, take a punch to the arm without falling, and accept being sprayed with pepper foam in the face, among others. The inmates would be rewarded with food and coffee for completing the challenges, according to state police.

The three guards accused are David M. Whitcomb, 28, of Hellam, Mark A. Haynes, 26, of Jacobus, and Daniel H. Graff, 37, of York. The three men have been charged with official oppression and are on unpaid administrative leave, according to the York County Prison.

State police are investigating the actions of the three guards from January through July of this year.

The investigation began after video footage showed Haynes grabbing David M. Wright, an inmate, by the neck from behind. Prison officials were reviewing the videotape as they were investigating an unrelated incident in which graffiti had appeared in the south block of the prison.

Wright, of Red Lion, was later interviewed and told investigators that Whitcomb, Haynes and Graff arranged for him to wrestle another inmate in a closet. The other inmate was James W. Hicks, of Dover.

Wright told investigators the rules of the wrestling match were that there would be no punching to the face and the winner would be whoever made the other “tap out,” or give up. The winner would receive extra food and coffee.

Wright said he won the match against Hicks, who was no longer permitted to work in the prison’s hallways as a condition of losing. Wright also reported another wrestling match in the closet against Graff, who allegedly cut off his air supply before Wright gave up.

Wright also told investigators that Whitcomb offered him food in exchange for punching him in the leg and giving him a “dead leg.” Haynes also offered food to Wright on the condition that Haynes was allowed to punch him in the arm.

Wright reported never receiving food for being punched by Haynes. He also did not receive coffee after allowing Graff to spray pepper foam in his face, state police said.

Hicks also told investigators of similar challenges he deemed consensual in which he would do “stupid stuff for food and coffee.”

Among the challenges were: snorting a crushed up candy, drinking a bottle of water with pepper foam in it and eating fruit with the peels still on them.

Hicks also reported wrestling Graff and Whitcomb and being punched by the two men in the arms and legs until they went numb. Whitcomb also “choked him out” on one occasion, Hick said.

The York County Prison issued a statement Friday, which in part read, “The actions alleged by Pennsylvania State Police in this case run counter to the professional behavior County and Prison management expect and require of all staff. Misconduct within any County agency is not tolerated.”

Note: This post has been updated with additional information.