Elmwood Jail Guard Recovering From 'Violent Attack'By 10 Inmates

Ten suspected gang members who are inmates at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas allegedly assaulted a Santa Clara County jail guard on Christmas Eve, the sheriff said today.

The deputy, a seven-year veteran whose name has not been released, suffered bruises, abrasions in addition to injuries to his hips and both of his shoulders in the “violent attack,” Sheriff Laurie Smith said.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the deputy was assigned to watch 41 inmates who were in the common area of a medium-security dormitory that housed 80 alleged gang members, Smith said. The deputy approached a group of inmates in the upper tier of the common area they were banned from and told them to disperse, according to Smith.

One inmate in the group dropped an item he had been hiding under his clothing and didn’t follow the deputy’s order to retrieve it, she said.

As the deputy bent down to pick up the item, he saw the same inmate allegedly rush at him from the corner of his eye, Smith said.

Nine other inmates joined in on the assault by kneeing, kicking and punching the guard, who was also struck in the head, according to Smith.

About 30 seconds into the alleged attack, the deputy sent a garbled distress call over his radio, which was briefly knocked out of his reach, Smith said. The deputy recovered the radio and sent a second transmission asking for help, she said. Additional deputies showed up about two minutes after the alleged attack began, according to Smith.

The injured deputy was transported to a hospital for treatment, has since been released and is recuperating at home, the sheriff said.

“The injuries of our deputy are substantial but we just are forever thankful that the injuries were not worse,” she said.

The deputy, who Smith said is highly trained and well regarded, is receiving full pay while on injury leave.

The 10 inmates, believed to be part of the same gang, have provided statements to investigators and moved to maximum security, Smith said. The inmate suspected of initiating the attack was uncooperative when he was being transferred, which led deputies to extract him out of his cell, she said.

Since the Christmas Eve assault, sheriff’s officials have assigned two deputies to supervise inmates in the common area of the dorm, Smith said.

Sheriff’s officials have also limited the number of inmates out of the dormitory and are assessing the jail’s infrastructure, including deputies’ radios, she said.

The sheriff’s office will recommend to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office that the inmates face charges including assault on a peace officer, Smith said.

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--Bay City News