By Tracey Kaplan
San Jose Mercury News
MILPITAS — Ten inmates jumped a Santa Clara County correctional officer on Christmas Eve, kicking and punching him so severely in the single minute before other guards arrived that he had to be treated at a hospital for what appears to be a torn shoulder rotator cuff, authorities said Monday.
The officer, who was not identified, is expected to be out of work for at least a few more days and possibly longer depending on a doctor’s evaluation, Assistant Sheriff Troy Beliveau said on Monday.
“We’re conducting a criminal investigation, and the inmates will be charged,’' Beliveau said.
Such assaults are fairly commonplace and would not normally come to the public’s attention. But the jails, overseen by Sheriff Laurie Smith, have come under heightened scrutiny since late August, when mentally ill inmate Michael Tyree was beaten to death in his cell, allegedly by three guards who now face murder charges.
Much of that attention has been on the guards’ conduct, prompting the union that represents the guards to point to Thursday’s incident as an example of the risks the guards face on a daily basis.
“We have a job that at times can get violent,’' said Julio Alvarez, acting president of the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association. “This is what we want the public to understand.’'
The attack occurred in a dormitory-style, medium-security unit called “M-4B’’ at Elmwood jail in Milpitas, where gang members are housed.
It was patrolled by just one guard, who apparently confronted an inmate when it became apparent that the man was under the influence of an unknown substance, Beliveau said.
At some point, the inmate threw some “contraband’’ on the floor and walked away, Beliveau said. As the guard knelt to pick up the bag, the inmate wheeled around and started the attack. About nine other gang members joined in.
The guard radioed for help and other officers arrived within one minute, Beliveau said. But by that time, the guard had been kicked in the groin and hit in the chest and head.
Beliveau said the original assailant had been in jail for more than a month and had not exhibited any violent behavior. He has since been “reclassified’’ and is now being housed in a higher-security unit.
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