6 Montco Prison Guards Charged With Assaults At Correctional Facility: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — Six former prison guards at Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville have been charged in two cases of assault inside the prison, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday afternoon. The charges come after a lengthy Grand Jury investigation into the alleged incident, which occurred in February.

The incident occurred at some point in the morning of Feb. 14, according to the DA. The six officers attacked inmates Derrick Houlihan, who wears and prosthetic leg, and Matthew Ruffings, both of whom were housed in separate high security sections of the prison, the DA said.

Houlihan is currently awaiting a pre-trial conference on charges of drug possession and delivery, while Ruffings is awaiting trial for aggravated assault and illegal firearms possession, according to court documents.

Houlihan has been at the Correctional Facility since was arrested in Dec. 2016 by Cheltenham Police. Ruffings, meanwhile, has been incarcerated since he was arrested by Norristown Police in Oct. 2015.

Video surveillance shows that Houlihan was initially assaulted by the guards in his cell, taken away for medical treatment, and then attacked again by guards upon his return in the common area, the DA said. Houlihan did not fight back.

Just hours later, still in the morning, the guards punched Ruffings repeatedly in the face while he was in his cell, authorities said.

During the assaults, three of the officers were wearing body cameras, and they were either turned off or the footage was later destroyed.

The District Attorney's Office did not specify what sparked the attack by the guards on the suspects. Guards told their superior officers at the time that they "used physical force" on an inmate.

The six former officers who were arrested, and terminated from their employment with the county, include Edwin Negron, formerly a Captain, Darin Collins, formerly a Lieutenant, and former Correctional Officers Alfred Gregory, Jr., Anthony Saxby, Randall Sims, and Jason Marshall. One other officer involved in the beatings was fired but no charges were filed against him.

Each of the men was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy, simple assault, reckless endangerment, official oppression, hindering apprehension, and related counts.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 2. First Assistant District Attorney Edward F. McCann Jr. and Assistant District Attorney Kelly S. Lloyd will prosecute the case.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office