Two inmates assaulted at Silverdale on Tuesday

Staff photo by Troy Stolt / Silverdale Detention Center is seen on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Staff photo by Troy Stolt / Silverdale Detention Center is seen on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office confirmed two assaults occurred Tuesday afternoon at Silverdale Detention Center.

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"Earlier this afternoon, two inmates at the Silverdale Detention Center were assaulted and received medical attention," J. Matt Lea, the public relations manager for the sheriff's office, said in an email. "Both inmates sustained what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. No further details are available as this is an ongoing investigation."

On Monday, District Attorney General Neal Pinkston announced that he was going to request that the Department of Justice conduct an investigation into Silverdale.

"Right now, it appears that Silverdale is one of the most dangerous places to be in our county, and that is unacceptable," Pinkston said in a news release.

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Three lawsuits from former inmates, all represented by attorney Derek Jordan, were filed April 15. Each plaintiff is seeking $1 million, alleging injuries from multiple stab wounds from other inmates at Silverdale.

The lawsuits further claim that violence has persisted in Silverdale even after the sheriff's office took over operations from a private company in December 2020.

Contact La Shawn Pagán at lpagan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow her on Twitter @LaShawnPagan.

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