NDCS Staff Suffer Assault, Virus at Nebraska State Penitentiary

LINCOLN – An inmate assaulted two staff members at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP) on Tuesday morning, and a third staffer was diagnosed with COVID-19 the same day.
The assault incident started in one of the yards, when multiple groups of men started fighting. Staff members deployed chemical agents in order to break up the altercations. Two inmates received lacerations, which appeared to be the result of homemade weapons. Their injuries were not serious and both men were treated by medical staff at the facility.
After the fight on the yard, inmates were escorted back into the facility. One inmate managed to slip out of his restraints, and he punched a nearby staff member in the head multiple times. The same inmate also assaulted a second staff member who came to assist. Both staff members were treated at a local hospital for their injuries. Both staff members received serious injuries.
Two housing units remain on modified operations while the investigation continues to identify all of the inmates involved in the fights on the yard, as well as the assaults on both staff members.
Results of the investigation will be provided to the county attorney for determination of criminal prosecution. The NDCS disciplinary process will be utilized with sanctions, such as loss of good time, applied according to the rules and regulations.
NDCS staff member tests positive for COVID-19
Also on Tuesday, a staff member at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) tested positive for the COVID-19. The staff member is employed at the Nebraska State Penitentiary (NSP). That person is self-isolating at home.
Notification will be provided to the facility regarding the new test-positive case. In addition, anyone who may have had close contact with the employee in the last 72 hours will be directed to self-quarantine until they are cleared to return to work by a medical provider.
No inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. This is the third employee with NDCS to receive a positive result.