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Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2009

Inmate at Merced County jail shocked by Taser after attacking officers

Pair of female correctional officers were attacked.

An inmate at the John Latorraca Correctional Center was Tasered on Saturday after he attacked two correctional officers at the jail, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Antonio Moreno, 26, was being moved to a safety cell at the jail around 1:45 p.m. when he attacked the two female officers, said Deputy Tom MacKenzie, sheriff's spokesman. MacKenzie said the officers were moving Moreno after he claimed to be "suicidal."

Before entering the cell, Moreno turned and punched one officer in the chest, MacKenzie said. The other officer was struck in the face.

Moreno tried to strangle one of the officers. During the assault, another inmate intervened and pulled Moreno off one of the officers, MacKenzie said. A third officer came from the control area and shocked Moreno with a Taser, dropping the 5-foot, 10-inch, 350 pound inmate to the floor, MacKenzie said.

If the inmate and the correctional officer hadn't intervened in the attack, MacKenzie said the other officers could have been seriously hurt or killed.

The correctional officers then were able to control Moreno and place him into the cell.

One of the officers was taken to Merced Mercy Community Medical Center and treated.

Moreno is in jail for an alleged probation violation involving a prior assault with a deadly weapon charge, MacKenzie said. The inmate now faces additional charges of battery with serious bodily injury to a correctional officer.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.