SD Sheriff's Deputy Attacked By 2 Inmates Inside Vista Jail

VISTA, CA — A sheriff's deputy was attacked by two inmates at the Vista Detention Facility on Saturday and was hospitalized, the San Diego Sheriff's Department said in a Sunday night statement.

Deputy Michael Cacioppo was escorting a nurse inside a housing module who was preparing to distribute medication to inmates after 2 p.m. when an inmate grabbed Cascioppo's attention. The inmate reportedly asked if Cascioppo could pass a food tray to inmates in the next cell.

After opening the cell door, two inmates rushed at the deputy and attacked him, authorities said. The deputy was punched and kicked multiple times, officials said. As he attempted to defend himself, the inmates reportedly pulled him further into the cell and continued to beat him until other deputies could come to his aid.

Cacioppo was able to walk out of the cell on his own. The nurse was able to flee and was unharmed, officials said.

Both inmates were taken into custody while Cascioppo was taken to a local hospital. He was released later that evening but he suffered multiple injuries to his head and torso.

"When spoken to [Sunday], his one concern was for the well-being of the nurse," officials wrote. "He wanted to make certain the nurse had not been injured."