An inmate at the Multnomah County Detention Center bit off a chunk of a jailer’s finger and wounded two other deputies Thursday — sending the downtown jail into a prolonged lockdown, authorities say.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy John Plock confirmed the corrections officer received a “significant wound” to the tip of his finger after he and two other deputies tried to move a man out of a housing unit about 9:45 a.m. because the deputies were worried the inmate would harm himself.
All three deputies were transported to the hospital for treatment of bites, scratches and abrasions, Plock said. The inmate, who Plock did not immediately identify, was also treated at the hospital, he said.
Inmates weren’t allowed out of their cells until 3:30 p.m., much longer than typical, according to Plock.
“Lockdowns are actually common at MCDC and are usually short; 10-15 minutes,” he said in an email Friday. “Lockdowns for extended periods of time, like yesterday, are not common but do happen.”
The altercation was a significant drain on staffing, Plock said, because other deputies were required to escort the injured officers and the inmate out of the jail. That left only enough guards on hand for essential duties — staffing the bookings desk, transporting inmates to the courthouse three blocks away and processing releases.
— Zane Sparling; zsparling@oregonian.com; 503-319-7083; @pdxzane
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