Correctional police officer hospitalized after he’s beaten by inmate at N.J. prison
A New Jersey correctional police officer at Northern State Prison in Newark was hospitalized after he was badly beaten by an inmate who stole his pepper spray and squirted the chemical at other officers, authorities said Friday.
Photos of the officer, who was not named, show cuts and bruises to the man’s swollen face and what appears to be a deep gash to the top of his head.
He was taken to a nearby hospital after the attack, which occurred about 6:50 p.m., according to PBA Local 105, the union representing about 5,000 correctional police officers.
“The inmate began his assault by unexpectedly punching and kicking an officer faced away from him, landing several strikes to the head and face before a distress signal could be called,” PBA Local 105 President William Sullivan said in a statement.
During the attack, the inmate stole the officer’s OC canister “to spray his face and use as a weapon,” the statement said.
“As nearby (response team) officers arrived on the scene, the inmate proceeded to deploy spray at the response team, subsequently emptying the canister,” Sullivan said.
The inmate, who was not named, was subdued “after much resistance.” The prison called 911 due to the severity of the officer’s injuries, the statement said.
“(The officer) was quickly transported to the nearest emergency room, his face heavily bruised and swollen with open gashes around his eyes and the top of his head,” the statement said.
Sullivan said the state Department of Corrections’ Special Investigations Division has launched a probe into the assault. No charges were announced as of Friday afternoon.