MASSILLON, Ohio — Saturday afternoon, Massillon Police and multiple law enforcement agencies including Jackson Township, Stark Township and Akron were dispatched to the Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility to respond to an ongoing incident, according to officials.
As of early Sunday morning, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said, "The barricade incident has concluded with all incarcerated youth safe and in custody. No injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation."
There have been two other incidents at the juvenile correctional facility earlier this week.
According to a News 5 source at the facility, 60-year-old guard David Upshaw was assaulted by a youth inmate on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The inmate used tape to prevent his cell from locking and attacked the guard as he was performing a hall check.
The inmate let three other youth inmates out of their rooms. All youth involved went throughout the facility ending up on the generator system where they refused to come down. Hours later youth inmates involved were cuffed and escorted back to their rooms.
A story that appeared on News 5's media partner site, the Akron Beacon Journal, shares the sentiments of Upshaw's wife on his attack.
"I'm not dropping this," said Patricia Upshaw, who lives in Copley Township in Summit County. "I will continue to scream at the top of my voice. This should not have happened. They were aware of the problems. ... I am going to bring to light this situation. I don't care how long it takes. This should have never happened."
Patricia Upshaw said her husband's attack was not an isolated incident, adding that at least three to four guards have been injured recently.
Shortly after Upshaw's incident, News 5 confirmed with juvenile facility officials that a female guard was also assaulted on Thursday, Oct. 20. However, officials were not able to provide the details of this assault.
News 5 spoke with those waiting outside the correctional facility who told us it's a scary situation.
“It’s ridiculous. They have to get it together somehow because this is never going to work,” said Amanda Corbin, whose husband works at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility.
Those with loved ones working inside like Corbin and current employees are fearful for their safety.
“I’m scared, yep, and I’m scared for my co-workers,” said Benny Wilmoth.
Benny Wilmoth says he’s been a correctional officer at Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility for more than 18 years.
Wilmoth tells News 5 he came to the building today to check on his co-workers and to see if anyone else had been hurt.
“I don’t think anybody’s safe in there right now. I don’t think the staff are safe in there and I don’t think the kids are safe in there,” said Wilmoth. Wilmoth points to several factors sparking the tense environment. “They’re so short that they’re bringing people in just to fill spots,” he said. “You can be a secretary up front or in the business office, and they’re mandating those people also and making them work units.”
These workers, Wilmoth says, are being placed in these positions without any experience, which he says create an even more dangerous workplace.
“If I’m not safe working in there, my co-workers are not safe working in there do you think those kids are safe in there, they’re not,” said Wilmoth.
Wilmoth says he hopes those in charge will recognize the correctional facility has a serious problem and will do something to fix it.
“I would like to speak right out to the Governor and ask him, what are you doing? This needs to be fixed, ASAP before somebody loses their life,” said Wilmoth.
News 5 reached out to the Ohio State Highway Patrol regarding the claims Wilmoth made and they have yet to get back to us.
We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
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