MONROE — Two corrections officers were hospitalized Tuesday after allegedly being assaulted by an inmate at the Washington State Reformatory.
The officers’ injuries weren’t believed to be life-threatening, said Susan Biller, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections. Both officers were expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday. One of them received stitches.
The incident happened shortly after 9 a.m. An inmate serving a 17-year sentence for a burglary with sexual motivation reportedly assaulted the officers after his cell was searched.
James Suber, 32, allegedly punched one officer in the head and face. A second officer was hurt when he came to his colleague’s aid, Biller said.
Suber has been locked up since 2006.
Inmate movements were restricted while Monroe police investigated the assaults.
Two months ago corrections officers fired two warning shots to end an inmate-on-inmate assault in the outdoor yard at the reformatory. Officers in the towers overlooking the yard fired the shots. No one was injured by the gunfire.
The inmate who was assaulted was taken to a local hospital and later returned to the prison.
The reformatory houses more than 700 inmates and is one of five lockups located at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
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