Multiple corrections deputies were injured after intervening in a violent altercation between inmates at the Thurston County jail.
According to Thurston County Sheriff Sanders, the incident occurred overnight in the G dorm when an inmate placed another inmate in a chokehold and ignored commands from a deputy to separate.
The attacker, initially booked for fourth-degree domestic violence assault, engaged in a five-minute struggle with deputies. During the altercation, the inmate grabbed and twisted a deputy’s knee and refused to release their grip. A corrections sergeant also suffered a chipped tooth in the fight.
The attacking inmate was also injured, including a black eye, and will be moved to an isolated cell after being cleared from the hospital. A TCSO patrol deputy responded to the jail and re-booked the inmate for second-degree assault on a correctional officer.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges corrections staff face managing violent inmates in jail settings where officers must intervene in inmate-on-inmate violence while facing assault themselves. The five-minute struggle demonstrates the difficulty corrections deputies encounter when inmates refuse to comply with orders.
Second-degree assault on a correctional officer is a serious felony charge in Washington state, carrying potential sentences significantly longer than the original fourth-degree domestic violence charge. The additional charge reflects the severity of attacking corrections staff during their duties.
The move to an isolated cell is standard protocol for inmates who pose threats to other inmates or staff, providing separation while maintaining custody and preventing further violent incidents.
