Sheriff’s deputy recovering after assault by inmates

SALEM – Officials say that a sheriff’s deputy was assaulted by two inmates at the Marion County jail.

Lt. Chris Baldridge, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said the attack occurred at about 2 a.m. Monday during hourly checks, the Statesman Journal reported.

The deputy fought off the attack and called for help, and both inmates surrendered when backup arrived. The deputy was taken to a local hospital for treatment and later released.

Marion County detectives and officials from Oregon State Police are investigating the assault. The names of the inmates and deputy were not released by officials. The jail houses about 400 inmates who are either in custody while awaiting trial or are serving a sentence of less than one year.