A teacher at the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility was hospitalized Tuesday after reportedly being attacked by an inmate wielding a hammer, according to the union representing staff at the facility.
Mike Rowe, spokesperson for the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, confirmed the assault took place but said details about the teacher’s condition were not immediately available.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, though a report had not yet been released as of Wednesday.
The Ohio Department of Youth Services, which oversees Indian River and two other state-run juvenile detention centers, acknowledged receiving an information request related to the alleged assault but has not yet provided additional details.
An Indian River employee, who spoke to Jordan Miller News on the condition of anonymity, described the youth involved as a repeat offender with a history of violent behavior at other state facilities.
“He is very violent,” the employee said. “He assaulted staff in Circleville. Just two weeks ago, he stabbed another youth in the head with a pencil — it was a deep wound.”
The facility, located in Stark County, houses male youth offenders and has faced increasing scrutiny over staffing shortages and inmate violence in recent years.
