ST. LOUIS — A detainee at the City Justice Center suffered injuries severe enough to send him to the hospital early Wednesday following an attack by his cellmate – but it was EMS workers who called police to the jail, not corrections staff.
EMS workers called police to the downtown jail at about 4:50 a.m. Wednesday, where officers found the victim with human bite marks to his left ear, right shoulder and abdomen, according to police sources familiar with the investigation.
Police sources tell the I-Team officers had a hard time getting information from correctional staff for an incident report.
Corrections staff members told police the last time they did their rounds was around 11 p.m. Tuesday and the attack happened on the second floor of the jail.
5 On Your Side is awaiting a response to a request for comment from the Department of Public Safety.
Corrections staff told police they saw the victim restraining his attacker. Corrections staff told police they saw the victim had bite marks to his groin area and was missing a tooth, and he was taken to a hospital.
The victim is in jail for suspicion of assault, gun charges, resisting arrest and domestic assault charges. His cellmate was also in jail awaiting trial on assault and domestic assault charges.
The City Justice Center has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, and activists have called for the firing of Corrections Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah. During her two years at the helm of the division, at least seven inmates have died, and guards have been assaulted as well as inmates.
Members of a civilian oversight board have resigned, alleging the commissioner is standing in the way of transparency.
The I-Team has reported police have been called to the jail more than 2,000 times in the past three years. Clemons-Abdullah said that number was not acceptable to her, but “may be necessary.”
