MITCHELLVILLE – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections say a staff member was assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, Friday. The incident happened at around 4:30-p.m.  The staff member, a correctional officer, was working at her post in a mental health unit of the facility along with another officer nearby when an inmate began to use verbally abusive language towards the officers.

The inmate was then instructed to return to her cell to de-escalate the situation, but instead unexpectedly rushed towards and began assaulting an officer with a closed-fist strike followed by hair-pulling and briefly wrestling on the ground. The other officer that was present was able to take immediate action to gain control of the attacking inmate, and additional staff were on the scene shortly after.

The staff member that was assaulted was assessed by facility medical staff and found to have no serious medical injuries. The incident remains under investigation.