MONROE — A corrections officer at the Monroe Correctional Complex was taken to an Everett hospital Thursday morning after being assaulted by an inmate, officials said.
The assault happened around 10 a.m. in the F living pod of the Special Offender Unit, state Department of Corrections spokeswoman Selena Davis said.
The prisoner accused of the assault was identified as Jimi Hamilton, 33. He allegedly tackled and punched a correctional officer while he was standing at his post. The incident lasted about 7 seconds, Davis said.
Officers immediately took Hamilton into custody and got medical help for the officer, Davis said. The officer’s injuries reportedly were not life-threatening.
Hamilton is serving a 14-year sentence for two counts of robbery in Pierce County. His earliest possible release date is May 2018. New assault charges could lengthen his time behind bars.
He has a history of prison infractions, including other attacks on custodial staff, Davis said.
The Monroe Police Department is investigating the assault. The inmate was transferred to the maximum-security unit to be interviewed by Monroe police and prison investigators.
The Special Offenders Unit was placed under restricted movement. It houses mentally ill offenders and has a current population of 346 male offenders.
The unit where the assault occurred has an offender population of 152. It is staffed with three correctional officers, a sergeant and nine non-custody staff.
The extent of the officer’s injuries were not immediately available. He was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. A condition report was not immediately available but corrections officials said the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Police and medics were called to the prison after 10 a.m. Thursday.
Monroe police remained at the prison in the early afternoon.
Monroe is home to one of the state’s oldest and biggest prisons with roughly 2,400 inmates and a staff of close to 1,200. It is divided into units, with inmates sorted by length of sentence, the risk they are believed to pose to security, and behavior on the street and behind walls.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.