By Bill Estep
Lexington Herald-Leader
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A state correctional officer has been arrested after allegedly ordering one inmate to assault another inmate the officer wanted hurt, according to a warrant.
State police charged the guard, 30-year-old Billy Ferguson of West Liberty, with first-degree unlawful imprisonment, first-degree official misconduct and complicity to an assault resulting in minor injury, said Master Trooper Joe Veeneman, spokesman for the Morehead state police post.
The alleged incident happened March 10 at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in Morgan County, where Ferguson is assigned.
The arrest warrant said that while he was on duty, Ferguson put one inmate in the cell of another and told him to assault the first man.
Ferguson acted with intent to injure the inmate, the warrant charged.
Information was not publicly available on whether Ferguson had handcuffed the inmate before the attack.
Officials at the prison learned of the incident and notified police immediately, said Lisa Lamb, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections.
State police arrested Ferguson at the prison Friday, Veeneman said.
Lamb said she could not comment on whether Ferguson has been suspended.