Inmate assaults Delano correctional officer
| Saturday, Mar 13 2010 04:10 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Mar 13 2010 04:10 PM
A female correctional officer at North Kern State Prison was moderately injured Saturday when a new inmate on his way to breakfast stopped and assaulted her, officials there reported.
The officer was reported to be stable condition after being transported to Delano Regional Medical Center.
According to a news release from the prison, the incident began shortly after an inmate housed at the facility since March 8 was released from his cell for the morning meal at about 8 a.m..
The inmate, Russ Loc, who had been convicted in Los Angeles County for forced oral copulation resulting in great bodily injury, approached the officer and started hitting her in the face. The news release said he knocked her to the ground and was trying to get on top of her but was stopped by other officers.
The inmate was handcuffed and was expected to be placed in confinement pending an investigation of the incident. The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation indicated that it plans to refer the case to the county District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
"Staff safety is a serious concern for me," acting prisoner Warden Maurice Junious said in the news release. "I have requested a thorough review of this morning incident in an effort to understand how this event occurred so we can make any necessary improvements."
