Jail TV Remote Fight Ends With Inmate Airlifted for Jaw Surgery

What started as an argument over a television remote inside the Lawrence County Jail ended with one inmate needing emergency surgery after suffering serious facial injuries. Correctional officers rushed to a housing unit after hearing shouting and a fight break out among inmates. According to the report, officers preparing inmates for transport heard yelling coming from one of the jail's housing blocks and immediately called for assistance. When officers entered the cell block, they found one inmate standing over another. According to the report, the aggressor continued yelling statements including, "I told you these mother f------ were mean," and "I don't know why you put your hands on me." Even as officers intervened, jail staff reported the inmate continued attempting to lunge at the other man while being escorted from the area. The injured inmate was taken to the booking area, where jail staff immediately began rendering first aid. Officers observed significant injuries, including a wound above one eye and injuries to his lower lip. Because of the extent of his facial injuries, a supervisor recommended he be transported to the emergency room for further evaluation. According to the victim, the fight erupted while he was watching television. He told officers another inmate attacked him during an argument over the television and the remote control. The other inmate claimed he acted only after being pushed first and declined to provide any further statement. Several inmates who witnessed the altercation also gave statements. One inmate reported hearing the argument escalate into a fight before correctional officers arrived to break it up. Another inmate told investigators he had been asleep and woke up when the fight started. Investigators photographed the victim's injuries, the other inmate's hands, and the area inside the cell block where the altercation occurred. What initially appeared to be a routine jail fight turned out to be far more serious. After being evaluated at a local hospital, the injured inmate was transferred to Grant Medical Center for surgery on his jaw. The incident remains under investigation. Violence Inside a Jail Can Lead to New Criminal Charges An inmate already in custody can face additional criminal charges for assaults committed inside a correctional facility. Those charges are separate from the offense that originally landed the inmate in jail and can carry additional prison time if prosecutors pursue the case. In this incident, what reportedly began as a dispute over a television remote ended with one inmate requiring surgery for a serious jaw injury.

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