Tuscaloosa County Jail Inmate Charged With Punching 2 Officers

A 21-year-old Tuscaloosa man jailed earlier this year on theft charges now faces felony assault charges after he allegedly punched two detention officers in the face last week.

According to court documents filed Tuesday, Javione Malik Washington was arrested on a first-degree theft of property charge in May 2020 and has been in the Tuscaloosa County Jail since pleading guilty to that offense in July.

Last Saturday, detention officers were reportedly trying to rehouse Washington within the jail when he punched a sergeant in the face and split his lip.

A second deputy tried to step in and force Washington to leave the cell and the inmate allegedly punched him in the face, too.

According to court documents, the second officer suffered an orbital fracture in his eye socket, a broken nose and a chipped tooth.

Washington, still in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault.