An inmate serving time for murder in California sparked chaos at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga when he attempted to stab a sheriff's deputy and another inmate with a makeshift knife. The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m., as reported by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
The inmate, identified as Christopher Lommie Jackson, aged 25 and in custody since 2019, armed himself with a jail-made metal knife and initiated the violent altercation. When deputies intervened, Jackson turned his aggression towards a deputy, causing moderate injuries to the deputy's face. The injured deputy was promptly treated and released from a local hospital.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus emphasized the serious threat posed by such violent behavior to the safety and security of both staff and inmates within correctional facilities. He commended the deputies for their swift response in maintaining order and ensuring a secure environment. Dicus also stated that maximum legal consequences would be pursued for those involved in attacks within correctional facilities.
According to the SBSD, Jackson has a history of multiple prior arrests for violent offenses in San Bernardino County, underscoring the concerning pattern of behavior exhibited by the inmate. This incident adds to a string of recent violent encounters in correctional facilities, including a South Carolina corrections officer being hospitalized after being stabbed in the head by an inmate at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the brawl at the West Valley Detention Center and are working to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals within the facility.
