Prisoner injures two officers at Monroe

Published 10:19 pm Thursday, March 5, 2009

MONROE — Two corrections officers were injured Sunday when a convicted murderer went on an attack in the most secure unit at the Monroe Correction Complex.

The prisoner, 31, is serving time for two first-degree murder convictions and other violent crimes. He went on attack while being taken from his cell just after 7 a.m. to a prison yard for exercise, prison spokeswoman Cathy Kopoian said.

That’s when he apparently slipped out of handcuffs and attacked the officers, she said.

The officers called for assistance and the prisoner went back into his cell. The officers were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The prisoner is housed in the Intensive Management Unit, which opened in 2007. The 100-bed unit is a highly-controlled environment meant for prisoners who are difficult to manage.

Monroe police are investigating the assault. Prison officials also are looking into the incident, Kopoian said.