By C1 Staff
CARLISLE, Ind. — A sergeant and two corrections officers are recovering after two inmates attacked them on July 20.
Sgt. Brad Colglazier was speaking with inmate Cortez Wheeler when Wheeler punched Colglazier without warning, knocking him out, the Tribune-Star reported.
Officers Christopher Simmerman and Charles Simpson attempted to restrain Wheeler when another inmate, Keenan Mardis, attacked them.
Less than a minute later, backup entered and used a chemical agent to subdue Wheeler and secured the unit. The inmates were out of their cells for the morning meal when the assaults happened.
Mardis, who hid in his cell after the assaults, and Wheeler were placed in a restricted-status housing unit. Investigators have no motive.
Colglazier was treated for back and head injuries and released, the publication reported. Simmerman and Simpson were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening facial laceration and fractures.
According to WTHI, the facility is still on lockdown and inmates are being questioned.
“They were viciously and senselessly attacked and we aren’t going to tolerate that, we shouldn’t have to,” prison spokesman Rich Larsen said. “Our office of investigations is monitoring [the officers’ injuries] closely and that will help determine what level felony we go after these guys with, and we will go after them.”
Mardis, 19, is currently serving a 58-year sentence for a murder charge and Wheeler, 27, is serving 49 years for murder and burglary convictions.