VISTA–Two inmates at the Vista Detention Facility on Saturday brutally attacked a Sheriff’s deputy while he was escorting a nurse to distribute medication to one of the housing modules, the Sheriff’s Department reports.
The incident happened at 2 p.m. while Deputy Cascioppo and the nurse were walking by one of the cells. One of the two inmates inside the cell got the attention of the deputy. The inmate asked if the deputy could pass a food tray to the inmates in the cell next door. When Deputy Cascioppo opened the cell door to oblige, the two inmates rushed out and began assaulting him without provocation. The deputy was punched and kicked multiple times in the torso and head area. As he defended himself, the two inmates pulled him into their cell and continued their violent assault until responding deputies were able to stop the attack and take both inmates into custody. Deputy Cascioppo was able to walk out of the cell on his own but suffered multiple injuries to his head and torso, according to Sheriff’s Department spokesman Lt. Ricardo Lopez.
The deputy was transported to a local hospital and was released later that night. When spoken to that day, his one concern was for the well-being of the nurse. The nurse was able to flee and was not assaulted.
