2 correctional officers accused of facilitating assault in Arizona prison

PHOENIX – Two correctional officers were arrested for allegedly facilitating an inmate-on-inmate assault to take place at an Arizona prison, authorities said Thursday.

Javier Chavez and Alfredo Reyes were arrested when they arrived for work Wednesday at the Tucson state prison’s Cimarron Unit.

Both men resigned after their arrests, according to an Arizona Department of Corrections press release.

Investigators found that the incident alert system was not activated for more than an hour after the assault took place.

The inmate who was beaten was hospitalized in critical condition as a result of his injuries.

“The alleged actions of these two individuals are nothing short of criminal and a disgrace to the correctional profession,” Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles L. Ryan said in the release.

“ADC supports criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law in this matter.”

Chavez and Reyes were booked into the Pima County Jail on charges of conspiracy to commit dangerous/deadly assault by prisoner, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, endangerment and conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, all felonies.

Several inmates have been identified as suspects in the assault and ensuing cover-up attempts, the release said.

Additional charges could be filed as the case remains under investigation.

[newsletter][/newsletter]

Related

MCSO detention officer arrested for misdemeanor assaultFormer ADOT employee charged with tampering with MVD files of inmatesPhoenix Children’s uses model patients to teach healthcare workers new skillsCity of Chandler to hold public meeting on planned utility rate increaseArizona food bank receives 1st delivery as part of egg price-fixing settlementWhich Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?