3 inmates charged for violent Mass. prison attack

By Flint McColgan, Joe Dwinell
Boston Herald

BOSTON — Three inmates are now charged for the brutal attack at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center earlier this month that injured five correction officers — with one stabbed 12 times and suffering a punctured lung.

The guard union applauded the move while urging prison bosses to improve safety of beleaguered officers.

“Attacks against our officers will not be tolerated and the serious charges filed against the three individuals demonstrates that the Massachusetts Department of Correction will take action,” interim DOC Commissioner Shawn Jenkins said in a statement included in the announcement.

Investigators filed criminal complaints against the inmates in Clinton District Court. Jose R. Crespo, 39; Heriberto Rivera-Negron, 36; and Jeffrey Tapia are each charged with mayhem, armed assault to murder and assault to murder. Rivera-Negron is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 10, Crespo on Oct. 11, and Tapia on Oct. 15 .

The violence went down on Sept. 18 . A surveillance video from the attack shows a correction officer walking through a common area with tables and attached chairs when an inmate leaning against a wall lashed out, either with fist or a “shiv,” a makeshift knife.

The officer recovers enough to slam the inmate to the ground but another inmate rushes in and the officer grapples with both until another officer comes to his aid. Then a third officer and a third inmate become involved. Roughly 15 seconds later, several officers join and contain the situation.

The five injured officers were treated at a hospital.

The DOC “increased resources” and added “specialized staff to the facility for the day and evening shifts” as of five days following the event, Jenkins said then.

“This type of violence is unacceptable and now those involved will be held accountable in the court of law. We have and will continue to make the safety and health of our Correctional Officers a priority and appreciate their dedication to the DOC and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Commissioner Jenkins wrote in his statement. “Our investigators worked tirelessly since the incident occurred to bring these charges forward.”

The MA Correction Officers Federated Union backed the DA yet called for the DOC to amp-up safety behind bars.

“MCOFU is grateful to the Worcester County District Attorney’s office for their help working with us in getting the appropriate charges filed against the inmates involved in this ambush attack on our officers,” the union said.

The statement from the correction officers continued, “We demand the DOC take action to make the prisons more secure by clearing out the deadly weapons and drugs that are too prevalent in our system. Our focus remains on the safety of everyone in the prison system, to include our brothers and sisters of MCOFU.”