By Devoun Cetoute
Miami Herald
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — A Miami-Dade corrections officer was stabbed in the chest Monday by an inmate wielding a “shank” who was being held for a murder charge, authorities say. The prison guard was hospitalized.
Jarvis Fortson, 44, is serving a life sentence at the Dade Correctional Institution in Homestead for first-degree murder. The attempted killing of Officer Raj Mitchell has Fortson now facing charges of attempted first-degree murder, resisting an officer with violence and possession of a contraband weapon, his arrest report read.
Around 12:30 a.m., Mitchell noticed Fortson out of his cell. He quickly went to Fortson to return him to his cell as Officer Danel Cottle watched from inside an officer station, the report read.
An argument broke out between Mitchell and Fortson in front of his cell that became violent when the prisoner attacked the officer with a “homemade weapon (shank).” While Mitchell tried to defend himself, Fortson stabbed him multiple times along the side of his torso.
Eventually, other correctional officers descended on them, breaking up the stabbing, the report read. Mitchell was treated by medical staff at the correctional institution before being airlifted to Jackson South Hospital.
He was treated for puncture wounds from the stabbing.
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