From California Department of Corrections news release:
This morning, March 13, 2010, at approximately 8:14 a.m., a 43-year-old female correctional officer at North Kern State Prison (NKSP) sustained moderate injuries in an unprovoked attack by a 37-year-old inmate in the reception center part of the prison.
The correctional officer was transported to Delano Regional Medical Center where she remains in stable condition. The inmate was identified as inmate Russ Loc, who has been housed at the prison since March 8, 2010, after being convicted in Los Angeles County for forced oral copulation resulting in great bodily injury.
The incident began this morning at approximately 8 a.m. As inmates were exiting their cells for the morning meal, the inmate approached the officer and reportedly began to assault her by hitting her in the face and knocking her to the ground. The inmate then tried to get on top of the officer to continue assaulting her but responding officers intervened to stop the attack.
The injured officer was immediately transported offsite to the hospital. The inmate was placed in handcuffs and is expected to be placed in confinement away from other inmates, pending the outcome of the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, CDCR plans to refer this case to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
“Staff safety is a serious concern for me,” said acting NKSP Warden Maurice Junious. “I have requested a thorough review of this morning’s incident in an effort to understand how this event occurred so we can make any necessary improvements. My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the department, are with the Officer and her family.”
