Prisoner stabbed in cell
Violent outbursts inside the walls of the Hattieville prison seem to be weekly events these days and this week was no different. Initial media reports were that two prisoners got into a fight in the prison yard on Wednesday morning over the spoils of a robbery on the “outside”. One was stabbed. Today Lloyd Augustus told News Five from his hospital bed that he was ambushed inside his cell by three inmates who wanted a small amount of cash and cigarettes. Augustus’ family came to News Five to voice a complaint we have heard before, that they only found out from a third party, not prison authorities, that Augustus had been stabbed and was undergoing surgery to save his life at the KHMH.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Thirty-five year old Lloyd Augustus was sentenced to two years in prison after he was found guilty of six different drug charges. However, after spending only two months at the Hattieville Correctional Facility, the inmate now lies in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital recovering from a stab wound he received inside his cell on Wednesday morning.
Lloyd Augustus, Inmate
“Yesterday about ten thirty, to eleven ‘o clock so we went on recreation and I went across to the tower to make a phone call. As soon as I get through with my phone call, I went back into my cell. There about three minutes after, these three guys come, “Bagga” the one called Darrel Jones, he came in the cell and demanded fifteen dollars from me and a pack of cigarettes. I explained to him that I no have no money because I just sent my money to buy some cigarettes and then he punched me in my mouth and he and I started to fight in the cell. And from behind, this one “Red Foxx” came and stabbed me in the chest. He is the one who actually stabbed me and then on my way out, moving out from the cell to go to the tower, I was kicked down in the drain by one Neru Smith.”
Augustus managed to get the attention of a security guard, who quickly came to his rescue. Augustus was rushed to the KHMH where he immediately underwent surgery. A stab wound to the left side of his chest penetrated his lungs. Today his condition is stable. According to prison authorities, their investigation reveals that Augustus may have been stabbed because of an old dispute with Jones and Smith. Reports are that all inmates were allegedly involved with a robbery and the stolen loot was not equally shared. However Augustus claims he was attacked because the inmates wanted to rob him.
Lloyd Augustus
“They do not have any transaction, I no have nothing for them. It’s “jack,” it’s “jack” they were looking to do me in the jail, they came and demanded my money.”
However as the inmate recuperates in the hospital, the Augustus family is upset with the Department of Corrections. They say prison authorities never informed them about the incident.
Kirk Augustus, Brother
“The prison didn’t have the decency to call and tell us that, Mr. Augustus or Mrs. Augustus, you know we had a little incident at the prison and your son was involved and he’s been stabbed. Nobody didn’t call, nothing. When we got the message, we called the prison and asked, not in a bad way or anything, we just asked how come no one called us, notify the family that you know, your brother or your son has a problem, he’s in the hospital. The person shut us out, telling us they couldn’t deal with us because they were in a meeting.”
Lloyd Augustus
“I did ask the officer who was in charge of the gate, I told him to please tell my people I was to the back here. Then the officer who brought me to the hospital, I ask him to make a phone call to my parents, but according to him he said he had to check with the authorities first, then he would call my people them.”
Prison authorities tell News Five it is policy that in the case of an emergency an inmate’s family is always notified, if a contact number is given at the time the prisoner is remanded. According to prison authorities, in Augustus’s case, their primary concern was saving the inmates life. Furthermore, they say no contact number was given, only an address and it took some time for them to inform the family. Meanwhile Hattieville Police say they have arrested Darrel “Bagga” Jones and Neru “Red Foxx” Smith in connection with the incident. Both inmates will be charged.
