An inmate at the Monroe Correctional Complex barricaded himself in an office with a counselor and fought with corrections officers who broke in and then handcuffed him.
By The Associated Press and Seattle Times staff
MONROE — An inmate at the Monroe Correctional Complex barricaded himself in an office with a counselor and fought with corrections officers who broke in, then handcuffed him.
The fight Wednesday lasted less than two minutes, said Cathy Kopoian, a spokeswoman for the prison.
The inmate, Jose Martinez, 20, was meeting with the counselor to discuss his pending transfer to the prison at Walla Walla, Kopoian said.
Martinez apparently didn’t want to leave the Monroe complex, made up of five different units or facilities including the Washington State Reformatory.
The complex is transitioning from housing high-security inmates like Martinez. Soon, only medium-security prisoners will be housed there, Kopoian said.
At 8:42 a.m., Martinez shoved a desk in front of the office door and threatened to harm any officers who tried to break in, Kopoian said. Eight officers forced open the door and scuffled with Martinez before they handcuffed him.
“It was over pretty quick,” Kopoian said.
Martinez, who was imprisoned two years ago after his conviction for first-degree child rape in Pierce County, was moved Wednesday to the intensive-management unit, where he will stay until Department of Corrections officials in Walla Walla decide to move him, Kopoian said.
One corrections officer was taken to a hospital as a precaution, and three other officers suffered minor injuries. The counselor, who was meeting with Martinez, was not hurt, Kopoian said.
Seattle Times staff reporter Sara Jean Green contributed to this report.