By AnnMarie Timmins
Concord Monitor
CONCORD, N.H. — One inmate was injured during a stabbing in the prison yard in Concord on Wednesday afternoon, corrections officials said. The man, Barry Christopher Perez, 23, of Hartford, Conn., suffered cuts to his face and chest and needed stitches, said Jeff Lyons, prison spokesman.
His alleged assailant, Osvaldo DeJesus, 23, also of Hartford, was apprehended within 40 seconds of the start of the attack and placed into maximum security, Lyons said.
The union that represents corrections officers issued a press release yesterday blaming the assault on staff shortages. William Ryan, vice president of the New England Police Benevolent Association, said DeJesus was able to scale a 10-foot fence and attack Perez within sight of two guard towers because both were empty due to staff shortages.
Lyons disputed that yesterday and said one of the towers has been unmanned for years and the other is staffed only at night. Plus, Lyons said, that second tower is some distance from where the fight happened.
He said corrections officers on the ground were able to get to the fight and break it up within 40 seconds.
DeJesus stabbed Perez, 23, about 2:30 p.m., Lyons said. The assault involved a homemade weapon.
Lyons said he could not confirm the details of the assault or Perez’s injuries. Perez was treated for nonlife-threatening injuries at Concord Hospital and returned to the prison, Lyons said.
Prison officials are investigating the incident. Lyons said investigators are looking into the cause of the fight and whether criminal assault charges are warranted.
In his press release, Ryan said, “The Department of Corrections administrators have to stop playing Russian Roulette with the safety of corrections officers and inmates. These facilities are seriously understaffed, and someone is going to be seriously hurt or even killed.”
DeJesus has been in prison since a 2005 conviction on two counts of possession and sale of heroin. He was to be eligible for parole March 28, according to prison records. Perez is serving time for a 2006 conviction for possession of cocaine.
Copyright 2009 Concord Monitor