By C1 Staff
BRIDGETON – A group of inmates attacked correctional officers at the Cumberland County Jail over complaints about prison food.
NJ.com reports that Ofc. James Irwin was left with a torn tear duct and needed to be hospitalized; he was operated on and had a stent placed inside his tear duct. Thirteen inmates are said to have been involved in the incident.
The incident in question, which is under investigation, involved inmates eating on the third-floor housing unit. Several refused to give back their food trays and began causing a disturbance. When officers responded, one inmate punched an officer and another threw a container of juice at a second officer.
Another 10 officers responded and pepper-sprayed 11 inmates who were allegedly making threats, yelling and refusing to return their trays.
Warden Bob Balicki said that the food isn’t “gourmet,” but it is an adequate and balanced diet.
“…They are not entitled to what people get on the street,” he said. “Sometimes they don’t like it. And it’s not an issue I’m concerned about.”
Two inmates have been identified as the primary culprits in the incident, and one has been transferred to the Camden County Jail. Balicki says the second will soon follow.