@1. a BODY STYLES:MONROE — A Monroe Correctional Complex inmate briefly barricaded himself and a counselor in an office Wednesday morning, and four corrections department staff were injured resolving the crisis.
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 eight correctional officers opened the office door and wrestled Martinez into handcuffs after a struggle of about 90 seconds, the corrections department reported.
Four officers suffered minor injuries. One of them who took several blows to the head was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
The 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.
Associate Superintendent Howard Anderson said the fight was a calculated move by Martinez to avoid a transfer to the general population of Washington State Penitentiary.
“He accomplished his mission,” Anderson said. Martinez will go to an intensive management unit, which could be at the penitentiary or another prison.
Monroe police are investigating with the assistance of prison staff. It is a felony for an inmate to assault corrections officers or staff.
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