MILPITAS — A man being held at the Elmwood Correctional Facility is on life support after other inmates viciously attacked him earlier this week, according to authorities.
Related Articles
Livermore man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting boy in San Jose
Appellate court signals support for former 49er Dana Stubblefield bail hearing
Four men held on suspicion of shooting at San Jose police officers
Milpitas man gets 15 years to life for killing transgender partner in 2021
Juveniles on e-bikes cause multiple disturbances in Los Gatos
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office disclosed details about the attack Wednesday after San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP President Sean Allen sent a letter to Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg demanding “complete transparency regarding this incident.”
Deputies found the inmate unconscious and suffering from severe injuries around noon Monday while conducting a routine welfare check, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
The inmate was taken to an area hospital, where he underwent surgery for traumatic head injuries. The sheriff’s office said the inmate is listed in critical condition.
The attack happened in a “large, open dormitory-style living space, with several rows of metal bunk beds allowing for minimal separation between inmates,” the sheriff’s office said.
Three inmates were identified as suspects and transferred to the Main Jail in San Jose. The sheriff’s office said the trio is facing charges of attempted murder and torture.
In the letter to Ellenberg, Allen said the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP learned that the inmate was “targeted by multiple gang members who mistakenly identified him as a rival gang member” and that the attack lasted 20 to 25 minutes.
“Our organization has significant concerns regarding this incident,” Allen said. “It is alarming that the attack took place without intervention from law enforcement. We question why this individual was placed in an environment where his life was at risk.”
Allen said his organization was also “informed of staffing issues that may have contributed to the inability to prevent this attack.”
The inmate is not expected to survive his injuries, according to Allen, and his death would follow a noticeable increase in in-custody deaths at county jails last year.
Along with his call for transparency about the incident, Allen demanded that the sheriff’s office disclose the “actual numbers pertaining to similar traumatic events that begin while individuals” are in its custody. He also asked the sheriff’s office to explain why it did not report the attack after it “became aware that a loss of life was imminent.”
“It is in the community’s best interest to understand these types of incidents,” he said. “Such incidents profoundly affect the families of the victims, those involved as aggressors and the community at large.”
Check back for updates.
