Salinas Valley prison officials investigating brutal attack on inmate

Officials at Salinas Valley State Prison are investigating an attempted homicide on an inmate that occurred Tuesday morning.

Two inmates battered a third inmate with homemade weapons, causing him to fall to the ground and become unable to defend himself, Lt. Darren Chamberlain said.

Staff ordered the two inmates to stop the attack, but they failed to do so and staff intervened quickly, using chemical agents to end the attack. The victim suffered multiple cuts to his upper torso and head. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. His condition wasn’t immediately available.

Prison investigators say the attackers were 35-year-old Jesus Ruiz and Manden Torres, 22, both of Tulare County. Ruiz is serving a 50-year to life sentence for first-degree murder. Torres is serving a 118-year to life sentence for second-degree murder and discharge of a firearm.

A correctional officer suffered abrasions on his arm when he responded to the attack. A second officer suffered a cut on her chin.

The prison’s investigative services unit is investigating the attack.

Earlier this month, an attack on an inmate prompted a corrections officer to fire shots to break up a fight. In the March 7 incident, two inmates began attacking a third and officers’ orders to stop were ignored. An officer fired two warning shots, one of which struck suspect Jose Espinoza in the hand. Espinoza, a convicted murderer from Kern County, was treated for his injuries. The victim in that incident didn’t suffer life-threatening injuries.