Another correctional officer assaulted at ISP

BY PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON – According to a statement released Thursday night by the Iowa State Penitentiary, the prison is currently on restricted movement following an assault on an officer this afternoon.

The statement, released by Curt Overton of the Iowa Dept. of Corrections, indicated a staff member was assaulted by aninmateat the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison at approximately2:45 p.m.Thursday afternoon.

The staff member, a correctional officer, was conducting a search of an inmate's cell when the inmate attempted to strike the officer with closed fists. The officer that was attacked, as well as another officer that was in the area, quicklytook control of the situation.

The staff member was assessed by institution medical professionals for scratches and bruises that occurred from the incident. He returned to his post after his medical evaluation.

The inmate that attacked the staff member was transported to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics for further medical assistance.

This incident remains under investigation, and the penitentiary has been placed on "restricted movement" for the time being.

The assault is the third reported at the prison since July. The attack comes just days before a fundraiser for officer Jesse Burgher who was stabbed multiple times by an inmate at ISP with two homemade weapons on Oct. 18, 2017. That fundraiser is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight at the LULAC Club in Fort Madison. Another incident involving close to 50 inmates broke out on July 1 that resulted in a prolonged lockdown at the facility.