COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Branch County Jail corrections officer and an inmate were both injured in an assault by the inmate at the jail last week. Sheriff John Pollack told the Branch County Board of Commissioners at their meeting Thursday that the assault led to a lockdown at the county Jail.
Pollack says the officer and the inmate were taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County for treatment of injuries. The officer’s injuries were not considered severe, but Pollack said the injuries required surgery.
Coldwater City Police and the Michigan State Police had to be called in for assistance.
Meantime, Pollack says overtime for the department piled up over a busy Fourth of July holiday weekend. Deputies had to be called in Tuesday to handle the back log of complaints.
Deputies were held over a total of 14 hours during the holiday weekend because of complaint volumns. In addition, the Marine Patrol had to be held over a total of nine hours to cover the Gilead Lake fireworks incident. They were assisted by the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Resources.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Department needs to fill a corrections officer position following a resignation. Commissioners voted to bring the staffing request to their regular meeting Monday.
