By C1 Staff
NEW YORK — An inmate at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility in New York beat a female correctional officer so badly that she was left with severe bruises to her head and two black eyes.
The officer, Capt. Elizabeth Sturdivant, was repeatedly punched in the face by Jessy Blount when she was issuing him an infraction for beating another inmate in a separate incident, according to the Atlanta Daily World.
Sturdivant used pepper spray in a failed attempt to prevent the attack.
She suffered a large hematoma on her forehead and two black eyes before other officers rushed to her aid.
According to a new use of force policy, officers are required to use pepper spray and to avoid hitting inmates in the face, which the president of the Corrections Captain Association says leaves officers vulnerable.
“Again we have somebody beaten by an inmate and our hands are tied,” Patrick Ferraioulo said. “it’s only going to get worse. People are afraid to defend themselves.”