A Peoria County Jail corrections officer is hospitalized with severe injuries after reportedly being attacked by a detainee Thursday morning.
Sheriff Brian Asbell said the officer was struck in the head multiple times from behind with a broom handle by 37-year-old Nicholas Rusk during breakfast in the jail's general population area. Detainees are given brooms and other cleaning equipment in the morning, Asbell said.
The area where the attack happened wasn't under camera surveillance, and Asbell said Rusk damaged the officer's radio, leaving the officer unable to call for backup.
Asbell said he believes the officer fought with Rusk for 10 minutes before a cellmate was able to summon help. Rusk and his cellmate were the only two detainees in the dayroom area of the general population housing unit at the time of the incident, the sheriff said.
Rusk has been in the jail since Augest when he was arrested on DUI charges. He's now been arrested for aggravated battery to a correctional employee.
The corrections officer, a 17-year correctional officer veteran, suffered "large lacerations" to the head and other injuries to the upper body, Asbell said. The officer is currently hospitalized in stable condition.
Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU. 9(MDIwMjIxMDA0MDE0Mzk4NDIzNjA0OGQ5Yg001))