Fresno prisoner attacks jail officer

FRESNO – A Fresno County Correctional Officer is currently being treated at Community Regional Medical Center for injuries suffered after being assaulted by a jail inmate Thursday evening.

Sheriff’s officials identified jail inmate 32-year-old Alfredo Ramirez as the jail inmate who assaulted a 43-year-old officer who was supervising the county’s main jail facility located on the 1200 block of M Street in southeast Fresno.

The identity of the officer, who suffered a broken nose and several contusions in the attack, has not been released. Capt. Rick Hill said the officer would be off duty for a while until he recovers from his injuries.

Hill described the details of the assault that took place around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

“The officer was conducting his regular duties, which require walking into cells and housing units occupied by violent and, oftentimes, unpredictable prisoners,” Hill said. “The inmate, with no warning or provocation, assaulted the officer with his fists as the officer was walking out of the inmate’s assigned housing unit.”

Hill added that the inmate struck the officer several times and knocked him down to the floor. Other officers responded to end the attack. Hill also confirmed that the prisoner acted alone and received no additional help from the other 36 inmates that were inside the main jail facility.

Hill described Ramirez as a federal prisoner who is being held for illegally entering the United States. He has been in Fresno County Jail since Jan. 5. Ramirez has prior convictions for vehicle theft, burglary, narcotics and resisting arrest.

The injured officer is a nine-year veteran of the sheriff’s department.