Racine County inmate attack deputies with a pen causing injuries

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RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Racine County Sheriff’s Office released security footage of two deputies being attacked at the jail by an inmate Tuesday morning.

The suspect, Zarnell Massie, is now facing charges of first degree reckless injury, battery by a prisoner and disorderly conduct.

Officers were taking Massie’s fingerprints and photographs when the attack happened. Court papers say when Massie was given a pen to sign his name at the jail, he turned and began swinging it at the deputy’s head, striking him over and over.

A video released by the Racine County Sheriff's Office shows Massie signing papers, then attacking a deputy. Massie also bit the deputy on the neck, and several officers came in to restrain him.

The deputy suffered punctures to his head, cuts to his face, and bites to his neck and hand.

County Board Supervisor, Eric Hillery, who sits on the Government Services Committee, say the senseless attack is a reason to review safety measures at the jail.

”I definitely believe that there could be options such as maybe doing the electronic pen signatures or something of that nature. I don’t know what the procedures are now so I’m not you know, judging those or knocking those procedures, but I think that in order to protect our deputies and make sure that they’re safe, I’d like to definitely review them and get in contact with Sheriff Schmaling as well,” said Hillery.

Massie was originally booked into the jail for a disorderly conduct charge. Both deputies were taken to the Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine for treatment.

Massie has a competency hearing scheduled on August 20, 2019.




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