12/5/2024 – Multiple Corrections Officers injured and a weapon was found during a prisoner assault at St. Louis Correctional Facility (SLF)

At 18:45 hours, prisoner A left his cell and walked down the B-Wing upper gallery to cell 2-247. Prisoner A entered cell 2-247 and began exchanging closed fist punches with prisoner B (2-247B). Officer A responded and notified additional staff with his institutional radio.  Officer A gave loud verbal commands to “stop fighting” as he retrieved his Personal Chemical Agent (PCA) from its holster but decided not to use it. Officer B responded and assisted Officer A in removing prisoner A from the threshold of the cell, bringing him into the hallway. Prisoner A displayed active resistance and aggression as he pushed and pulled away from staff as they attempted to gain control of him kicking Officer A in the chest. Officer C grabbed prisoner A to try and secure him. Officer B delivered 4 Supra Scapular Stun strikes with his hand to prisoner A’s left side as he actively grabbed Officer C around the neck. Prisoner A then punched Officer C with a closed fist to his left eye, and punched Officer B in the left cheek. Officer B delivered 2 more Supra Scapular Stun strikes to prisoner A’s left side to gain compliance and release Officer C’s neck. Officer C delivered two punches to prisoner A who then released Officer C. Officer A secured prisoner A’s right arm and Officer C secured prisoner A’s left arm behind his back while Officer B secured his legs. Officer C placed prisoner A in Handcuffs.

At 18:46 hours, Officers D, E and F responded to the scene. Officer D removed prisoner B from the cell and secured him in handcuffs with the assistance of Officer E.  Officer D and E escorted prisoner B to the Housing Unit 2, B-Wing base where Officer G and D assumed control of the escort to Housing Unit 7 (Segregation).

At 18:47 hours, Officers H, I, Officer J, K, L and Sergeant (Sgt.) M arrived to assist with prisoner A who was currently being stabilized against the floor. Officer I and H assisted prisoner A to his feet. Once on his feet prisoner A looked toward Officer J, spit blood onto his chest and kicked him in the chest. Officer H and Officer K took prisoner A back to the ground to prevent him from further assaulting staff. Sgt. M requested a Spitters-Mask via institutional radio.  While on the ground prisoner A actively resisted staff as he thrashed his body back and forth preventing staff from gaining control of him. Prisoner A eventually complied and laid on the ground until the Emergency Restraint Chair (ERC) was brought to the scene for transportation to Housing Unit 7 (Segregation).

At 18:51 hours, Officer N, A, and I arrived with the ERC. Officers H, J and F continued to secure and stabilize prisoner A against the ground until the Spitters-Mask was applied.

At 18:54 hours, Sgt. M placed the Spitters-Mask over prisoner A’s head, and he was assisted to his feet and secured in the ERC. Officer H, F and Sgt. M secured the shoulder straps while Officer D secured prisoner A’s feet.  During the restraint application prisoner A continued to yell and make threats against staff.

At 18:56 hours, Officer K wheeled the ERC to the steps of housing Unit 2, B-Wing. Officer F secured the right side of the ERC while Officer D secured the left side of the ERC and carried the ERC down the steps. Officer K transported prisoner A to Housing Unit 7 (segregation) with Officer D and Sgt. M supervising.

Prisoner A was placed in the Housing Unit 7 Hearings Room for a cool down period prior to a strip search, healthcare assessment and cell assignment. 

At 19:24 hours, prisoner A was removed from the ERC by Lt. O, Officer P and Officer Q. He was escorted to, and secured in the Housing Unit 7, A-Wing Lower Shower.  Prisoner A complied with a strip search and secured in cell 7-146. No contraband was located during the search.

Officer E located two weapons on the floor of Housing Unit 2, B-Wing Upper during the incident (origin of weapon material unknown). He secured the weapons and completed a Class I Misconduct Possession of a Weapon on prisoner A and completed a Michigan State Police (MSP) Referral for Investigation. The Weapons were placed in MSP Locker #1.

Officers C, B, A and J completed Class I Assault and Battery (Staff Victim) Misconducts on Prisoner A. Officer A completed Class I Misconduct’s for Fighting on both prisoners.

Officers C, J, and A completed State of Michigan Accident / Illness Reports (CS-1846) prior to the end of their shift. Officer C accepted medical treatment due to being punched in his eye and was sent to My Michigan Medical Center (MMMCA) for evaluation. He returned to work with no restrictions.

Currently cause of the fight and staff assault is unknown at this time.  

Universal Precautions were utilized during the incident.