Inmate tries to detain counselor at Monroe prison

Published 12:46 pm Wednesday, January 14, 2009

MONROE — A Monroe Correctional Complex inmate briefly barricaded himself and a counselor in an office this morning and four corrections department staff were injured resolving the crisis.

Convicted child rapist Jose Martinez, 20, was meeting with a counselor to discuss his pending transfer to Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla, according to the Department of Corrections.

Martinez allegedly shoved a desk to close the office door and threatened to assault staff. A team of about eight correctional officers opened the office door and wrestled Martinez into handcuffs after a struggle of about 90 seconds, the corrections department reported.

The classification counselor was uninjured. State officials said the same was true of Martinez, who was placed in an isolated cell.

Martinez has been at Monroe since September. He’s been locked up since December 2005, and isn’t eligible for release before March 2013.

Monroe police are investigating with the assistance of prison staff. It is a felony for an inmate to assault corrections officers or staff.