CORALVILLE – Two staff members were assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa Medical Classification Center in Coralville, IA at approximately 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night.
The staff members, a correctional officer and a nurse, were performing their normal duties in a mental health unit at IMCC. After becoming verbally aggressive, an inmate was instructed to return to his cell by the correctional officer. Instead of heeding instruction, the inmate rushed towards the correctional officer, and knocked him into the wall and then the ground. While on the ground, the officer sustained several closed-fist strikes from the inmate.
Two other inmates came to the assistance of the officer, as did a Licensed Nurse Practitioner that was working in the unit. The aggressive inmate was able to sustain a kick to the torso of the nurse that was attempting to assist. At that time, the officer that was originally attacked, with the assistance of the two inmates that came to his aid, was able to restrain the aggressive inmate until additional staff arrived.
Both staff members were evaluated by institution medical staff. The correctional officer sustained a cut on his elbow and bruising on his face, and the nurse had no sustained injuries.
This incident remains under investigation.
