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| Fla. Correctional Officer Attacked by Juvenile Inmates in Fair Condition |
| By Naples Daily News |
| Published: 03/05/2003 |
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A Lee County sheriff's deputy is expected to be released soon from Lee Memorial Hospital, while the suspects accused of beating him during an escape attempt remain in solitary confinement. Deputy William Lusk was in fair condition Monday night after three juvenile inmates beat him Saturday night at the Lee County Jail. As a result of the attack, sheriff's investigators will determine whether the agency should revamp its policies and procedures, said Mark Levens, jail chief. Lusk, 19, had not yet completed his first year as a correctional officer. 'We're doing an internal (investigation) and trying to examine 'Here's the policy and here's what happened that night' and what differs,' Levens said. About 11:30 p.m. Saturday, a sergeant found a badly beaten Lusk handcuffed inside a cell and without his uniform, reports stated. Pretending to sleep in the same cell were Juan Daniel Figueroa, Joshua Terell Underwood and Mateo Delacruz. The 17-year-olds are charged with attempted felony murder, criminal conspiracy, attempted escape, false imprisonment and resisting arrest with violence in connection with the attack. Underwood and Figueroa also have been charged with depriving an officer of means of communication. Figueroa and Delacruz are from Lehigh Acres and Underwood is from Fort Myers. From a July arrest, Figueroa already faces first-degree murder and attempted robbery with a weapon or firearm charges. Underwood and Delacruz were arrested Nov. 18 at the Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Myers on charges of battery on detention staff and escape from a detention or commitment facility. A variety of other charges sprinkle both their records. Lusk ordered all eight inmates into the cells for 'evening lockdown,' reports stated. Figueroa and Underwood hid from Lusk and waited for him to enter the cell block for a headcount. The two attacked him and took his chemical spray when Lusk attempted to use it on them, reports said. They continued kicking Lusk and jumped off a chair pounding their heels onto Lusk's head. After they stripped him of the uniform and handcuffed him, Figueroa sported the uniform and opened cell doors in an attempt to help friends and himself escape, reports stated. Figueroa opened and closed many doors with Lusk's keys but then heard more officers and ran back to his cell, authorities said. Levens said the uniform was found in the 'day room,' where inmates are allowed to spend time during daylight hours. It took about 15 minutes for the other deputies to arrive on the scene because Lusk never hit the panic button on his radio and no one knew he was in trouble. 'I don't know that he had time,' Levens said. 'You've got to have opportunity to do that and when you're surprised sometimes you don't.' Levens said investigators hope to learn more after they can interview Lusk. Top of Form |
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