State Reports New Incident of Assault At Tecumseh Prison

TECUMSEH - The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is reporting the third incident this month involving an assault on staff. A corrections department press release says the inmate repeatedly punched the staff member in the face and kicked the worker in the face before other staff members intervened. The staff member will receive medical attention for serious, non-life threatening injuries. The state also reported assaults on staff on July 25, when inmates refused to return to their cells, and July 26, when an inmate head-butted two staffers. Communications Director Dawn-Renee Smith said having the incidents in succession may make it seem like there is a rise in serious assaults, but she said numbers are actually down compared to prior years. She said Nebraska began reporting serious assaults in 2015. The inmate in Monday’s assault has been removed from general housing and placed in restrictive housing. Director Scott Frakes credited corrections staff for bravery and dedication. Frakes: “Prison is a dangerous place, but violence to our staff members will not be tolerated. The facility is managing the level of threat with appropriately controlled movement.”