Steven Keith Newell, 21, of Piedmont was charged Monday with felony second-degree assault and promoting prison contraband, a police report shows.
Around 9:21 a.m. Monday, a corrections officer was giving Newell orders outside of his cell when Newell became angry and sucker-punched the officer in the side of the mouth, Sgt. Jon Garlick said.
According to Garlick, Newell was originally in the jail awaiting a court date on attempted theft and criminal mischief charges.
The officer suffered minor bruising and a cut lip from the assault, and Newell was transferred to an isolation cell for lockdown, Garlick said.
Later Monday, officers searched Newell’s regular jail cell for any contraband. They found a sharpened metal object hidden inside his mattress, confiscated it and added the felony promoting prison contraband charge to the earlier assault arrest, Garlick said.
Newell remained on lockdown Tuesday afternoon, Garlick said.
Contact Star Staff Reporter Cameron Steele at 256-235-3562.
