An inmate punched a correctional lieutenant at an IL prison, sparking an assault that involved six prison employees and five inmates, the prison workers union said Monday.
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They are being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening, said Illinois Department of Corrections spokeswoman Nicole Wilson.
Wilson says the officers were hurt in “an assault involving five offenders”. The correctional center houses only male inmates. Her statement said the department is investigating and can not release any further details. “Then other inmates joined in the assault, injuring the other employees who had come to her assistance”.
Joe Lewis is a correctional officer at the facility and president of the AFSCME local that represents the prison workers.
Caumiant says inmates should stay confined to their cells until the department figures out the root causes of the violence – and completes a sweep for weapons.
Wilson challenged the union’s allegation that new policies at Pontiac are ineffective and have made the prison a more risky place to work.
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The prison is about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.
