Three Guards Stabbed at San Quentin; Lockdown Ordered

Three corrections officers were stabbed by an inmate at San Quentin in an isolated incident on Saturday, leading to hospitalization of the guards and a temporary prison lockdown, officials said.

A 21-year-old inmate from San Bernardino County attacked an officer escorting him from a high- security housing unit at the prison to an exercise yard at 8:40 a.m., said Lt. Dave Langerman.

The officer, who was stabbed in the chest with a makeshift knife, was reported in serious but stable condition at an outside hospital where he was taken after the assault, Langerman said.

Two other officers, who disarmed and subdued the inmate, were hospitalized with minor injuries and reported in good condition, he added.

According to Langerman, the inmate had been sentenced to San Quentin for assaulting a law enforcement officer and had been housed in a section of the prison set aside for its most violent prisoners.

Inmate visiting was suspended on Saturday, and all prisoners were “locked down” in their cells for the day, said Langerman. Operations were expected to return to normal today.