Civitavecchia – Inmate ingests batteries and attacks officer in hospital

CIVITAVECCHIA – Yet another disturbing news episode arrives in these hours from the Civitavecchia prison. According to what was made known by Sappe – the autonomous Penitentiary Police Union – yesterday a prisoner swallowed some batteries in his cell and, once he arrived at the hospital, attacked one of the Penitentiary Police escort officers. The news was given by Maurizio Somma, Sappe secretary of Lazio: “When his handcuffs were removed for the visit, he lashed out, treacherously and without reason, against one of the men of the Penitentiary Police who were escorting the prisoner, with scratches and two punches that broke his lip. The intervention of the officers was immediate and the subject was blocked.” For Donato Capece, “they were moments of great tension and danger, however managed with great courage and professionalism by the prison officers. The event was particularly critical because it took place in a hospital in the presence of other patients and family members but it was managed in the best possible way by the Penitentiary Police, who pay heavily in terms of stress and operations for these serious and continuous critical episodes”. Finally, Capece denounces how “it was a mistake to abolish prison healthcare and delegate everything to the local health authorities”.