By Tom Eldred,
Delaware State News
SMYRNA - A Department of Correction administrator confirmed Monday that the officer in charge of a probation unit at the Delaware Correctional Center near Smyrna was assaulted and injured by an inmate early Friday morning.
Noreen Renard, bureau chief for DOC's Community Corrections, said the incident occurred after Kenneth Holland, an offender assigned to Level 4 probation, had been ejected from a dining hall shortly before 6 a.m. and wasn't "very happy'' about it.
She said Holland, 34, of the Felton area, picked up a chair and attacked shift commander Lt. Adam J.K. Bramble.
Although Lt. Bramble told another officer Holland cut him in the neck with a razor, Ms. Renard said investigators had not found evidence of a weapon.
"We have not recovered any razor blade at this point,'' she said.
"The great news is that (Lt. Bramble) was not seriously injured and is returning to work (Monday evening.) That's good news. The department is investigating and we have referred the matter to the attorney general's office.''
Ms. Renard said Holland appeared to be irritated when he was ordered out of the dining hall. She said he could have been ejected for talking.
"We have very strict rules about talking,'' she said.
She said Holland continued to be agitated when he returned to his "pod,'' a dormitory unit housing about 24 Level 4 probationers assigned to work crews.
"Shortly after 6 a.m., the lieutenant checked the pod and told the inmate to settle down,'' Ms. Renard said. "At which point, he picked up a chair and swung it at the officer. An altercation ensued. It ended when another officer intervened and was able to handcuff the offender and take him to a holding area.''
She said Lt. Bramble suffered a laceration on the left side of his neck, a bruised hand and a sprained finger.
"It was suggested that he go to the hospital and get a shot,'' she said. "He insisted on driving there himself.
"He returned later and was given the rest of the day off. Saturday and Sunday were his regular days off and he is expected back on his regular assignment (Monday evening.)''
Lt. Bramble said he could not comment.
"Unfortunately, I can't comment,'' he said Monday. "If I say anything about the incident, they can come back and discipline me. I have 17 years with the department. I can't go out and look for another job.''
Gail Stallings Minor, a DOC spokeswoman, said Commissioner of Corrections Stanley W. Taylor declined comment.
Ms. Renard said Holland had not been formally charged Monday, pending input from the attorney general's office.
Ms. Renard said Holland was housed in a Level 4 portion of the Central Violation Probation Unit at DCC, waiting for an available bed in an outright work release facility, which would permit him to obtain outside employment while incarcerated in minimum security housing.
She said he was originally sentenced for possession of burglary tools, attempted theft and receiving stolen property, and had served approximately three years of Level 5 incarceration at DCC before being assigned to Level 4.
She said Holland's Level 4 probation was scheduled to end Feb. 6 for less supervised probation.
Ms. Renard said DOC did not make a public announcement of the incident Friday because of vacation schedules and because a decision was reached to began an actual investigation Monday.
She said community corrections officers and DOC's internal affairs unit are investigating.
She said Lt. Bramble reported the incident to his staff lieutenant, Lt. Robert May, who in turn called community corrections deputy warden James Hutchins.
"By that time the officer had been cleared by the hospital, the officer had reported back to the probation unit, and the decision was made to move forward with the investigation Monday,'' Ms. Renard said.
She said Mr. Hutchins serves under community corrections warden Vincent Bianco, who was on vacation Friday.
Friday's incident was the first confirmed assault involving a DOC employee since July 12, when an inmate abducted and raped a prison counselor at DCC before being shot to death by a correctional officer.
A task force appointed by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner is investigating the circumstances of that incident and has been charged by the governor with issuing a report with recommendations for security improvements by Jan. 31.
Senior writer Tom Eldred can be reached at 741-8212 or teldred@newszap.com.
Reprinted with permission from newszap.com www.newszap.com
