Two correctional officers at California State Prison, Sacramento are recovering in the hospital following an alleged attack by an inmate last Saturday night. According to KCRA, the incident occurred as the inmate was being removed from his cell to facilitate a routine search by the prison staff.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation described the attack as an attempted homicide. "Staff used physical force and chemical agents to quickly quell the attack, and an improvised weapon was found at the scene," said a statement obtained by KCRA. The aftermath left the officers in fair condition, necessitating medical attention beyond the capabilities of the prison's own triage resources.
The attacker, a 48-year-old man named Jason Brannigan, has been placed in restricted housing during the ongoing investigation. CBS News Sacramento reports that Brannigan had been sentenced to serve time for corporal injury to a spouse and was further penalized for possession and manufacture of a deadly weapon while incarcerated.
The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office has been notified and is considering potential felony prosecution in light of the recent event. California State Prison, Sacramento, known also as "New Folsom," is a multi-security facility housing over 2,200 inmates.
