An inmate assaulted a guard at the Monroe Correctional Complex last week.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the dayroom of the Special Offenders Unit (SOU). According to reports, the inmate, a convicted child molester identified as Paul Lopez, did not use a weapon.
Monroe Correctional Complex Public Information Officer Susan Biller stated that the guard was transported to Valley General Hospital via ambulance and treated for unspecified injuries. He was later released and is expected to make a full recovery.
The SOU, which opened in 1981, has an approximate population of 400 acutely mentally ill offenders at all custody levels. The SOU houses all Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) offenders, providing both housing and treatment.
Numerous safety procedures have been implemented at the prison since the murder of Officer Jayme Biendl in 2011, including additional cameras, radios, microphones and mace. They started a new initiative referred to as "Two to Open, Two to CloseGÇ¥ which mandates that two correctional officers are present during the opening or closing of any prison facility.
Biendl, a 34-year-old correctional officer who lived in Granite Falls, was attacked and killed by inmate Byron Scherf as she was closing the prison chapel. Scherf was given the death penalty in May of 2013.
Even with extensive safety measures, explained Biller, the prison can still be a dangerous place to work.
The offender will face disciplinary action.
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