Crime & Safety
Detainees Refused Coronavirus Treatment, Rushed Officers: Sheriff
Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said Friday night about 10 detainees claimed coronavirus symptoms, refused testing, before ambush.
ATTLEBORO, MA — Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson released a statement Friday night saying that a group of about 10 detainees at the C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Center in Dartmouth rushed officers and caused extensive damage to the unit after refusing treatment for new coronavirus symptoms.
Hodgson's statement said the group of about 10 detainees claimed they were suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, refused to get tested, then "rushed violently" at Hodgson and corrections officers after being informed they were required to be tested. Hodgson said in the statement that the detainees barricaded themselves in the facility, ripped washing machines and pipes off the wall, broke windows and trashed the unit.
Hodgson said the damage to the unit was "excessive" and "caused thousands in damages."
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Hodgson said when a response team and K9 officers responded to the unit, they were attacked by the detainees. He continued that officers were then able to regain control of the unit.
Hodgson said no officers were injured in the incident and that three detainees received medical evaluation, and are expected to be fine.
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"This all started because a group of 10 detainees each reported having at least two symptoms of COVID-19," Hodgson said in his statement. "The health care professionals told them they had to to be tested and had to go to the medical unit because of the reported symptoms. The detainees refused to go to the medical unit for testing. Our medical team alerted me, and I advised the detainees that for their health and the health of their fellow detainees and our staff, they needed to be tested at the medical unit.
"The detainees refused to comply, became combatant and ultimately put the lives of themselves and many other Bristol County officers at risk with their reckless actions."
Hodgson thanked the medical staff and security officers for their work in the incident.
Hodgson said the detainees were moved to single cells pending disciplinary action and COVID-19 testing.
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