Inmate, deputy recovering

RITZVILLE – An inmate and deputy injured in a June 28 incident at the Adams County Jail are on the road to recovering.

According to Sheriff Dale Wagner, Anthony Vargas-Martinez, 21, is recovering from his injuries, as is corrections deputy Suarez-Tapia, who remained on medical leave as of July 1.

The two were injured in the early morning hours of June 28 when inmate Ramon Reyna, 28, allegedly attached Vargas-Martinez, his cell mate.

At the time, Wagner decribed the attack as “unprovoked.”

“During the attack, Reyna repeatedly struck Vargas-Martinez with closed fists knocking him unconscious. Reyna continued beating the subject and then began kicking the victim in the head,”the sheriff reported on social media. “Correction Deputy Suarez Tapia, entered the cell and tried to intervene. A Taser was deployed, it initially worked but Reyna overcame it and attacked the corrections officer in an attempt to escape.”

Last week, the sheriff said access to the jail remained “limited” in the wake of the attack.

“We are working on getting staff trained to the level we need, and we will continue this process,” Wagner said on social media. “These things take time.”

The Sheriff’s Office was in the process of moving inmates to contracted jails in Sunnyside and Pasco, as well as Grant and Spokane Counties.

“We will and have continued to accept felony crimes, but have had to limit bookings of non-violent and other misdemeanor crimes at this time,” he said.

Wagner credited his corrections staff for performing a “huge task.”