By Bryant-Jon Anteola
The Modesto Bee
FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno man already serving time in a Northern California prison is accused of attempting to kill a correctional officer with an improvised weapon, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The prison attack happened around 10 a.m. Wednesday during a cell extraction at the California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville.
Dannuzio Patron, 38, attacked a correctional officer with an improvised weapon while officers were attempting to remove him from the prison cell via a tactical team, the CDCR said.
CDCR officials are investigating the incident as an attempted homicide of a peace officer.
The CDCR said officers utilized physical force to stop the incident.
One officer sustained lacerations to his left forearm during the encounter, and two responding staff members reported knee pain, the CDCR added. The injured officers were transported to an outside medical facility for treatment.
An improvised weapon is considered an object not originally intended as a weapon, but is used for combat or defense.
Patron was transferred to another institution for placement in restricted housing, and the case is being referred to the Solano District Attorney’s Office for possible felony prosecution.
Patron was sent to the Vacaville prison, which houses minimum-, medium-, maximum, and high-security inmates, after he was sentenced in late December 2024 by a Fresno County court judge to eight years for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as a second striker.
The CMF houses approximately 2,000 incarcerated individuals.
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