According to Pottsville Police Chief Richard
Wojciechowsky, on Friday, February 2, 2018 around 7:00pm, Pottsville Police were dispatched to the Schuylkill County Prison for a report of several guards having been assaulted by several inmates.
Upon arrival, officers were advised that all inmates had been secured and that several Correction Officers had been injured. Additionally, police were informed that the incident had occurred in the Restricted Housing Unit which is used for disciplinary, administrative, and protective custody inmates.
The inmates were identified as William Clark, 32, of Pottsville, Edwin Cruet, 29, of Reading, and Rakeem McCullough, 23, of Newark.
Police learned that Clark was being prepared to be transported to another cell and became uncooperative despite several verbal commands issued by the COs, forcing the COs to enter into the cell. Prior to CO's entering the cell, the three inmates placed towels around their faces in an attempt to prevent CO's from using aerosol chemical agents such as pepper spray to extract them from the cell. Upon CO's entering the cell, all three inmates took up an aggressive fighting stance in the rear of the cell.
As the COs entered the cell the inmates initiated a physical assault towards the guards requiring defensive responses from the COs to stop the aggressive criminal activity and the COs were successful in overcoming the deliberate and planned physical resistance of the inmates.
Due to injuries sustained during the incident, two corrections officers sought medical treatment at a local facility and each of the three inmates were transported for treatment at a local medical facility as well.
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