A Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured and two inmates arrested after a riot attempt at the Thurston County Jail on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 18.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders posted to Facebook Tuesday afternoon that a mentally ill inmate in the E Dorm punched a corrections deputy in the face in an unprovoked attack after the officer told the person to return to their bunk. When additional deputies responded, “approximately 20 additional inmates began inciting riotous behavior in the dorm,” according to the post.
As more deputies responded, another inmate was detained. Both of the inmates were removed from the dorm and placed in cells, according to the post.
Sanders said in the post that, ideally, all inmates involved would have been placed in cells, but no additional space was available in the jail at that time.
The deputy who was punched was treated for a laceration to the face. Charges will be referred to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office.