Rancho Cucamonga, California – A violent incident unfolded at the West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino County, as surveillance cameras captured an inmate armed with a homemade metal knife attempting to stab a deputy. The inmate, identified as 25-year-old Christopher Lommie Jackson, had been in custody since 2019 on various violent charges, including the alleged murder of an individual from Anaheim.
The altercation took place on June 11 around 2:45 p.m., prompting a response from jail-assigned deputies when Jackson tried to stab another inmate. In the footage, Jackson is seen flying out of his cell with the shiv in hand, making contact with a deputy, and engaging in a fierce struggle that led to the deputy being taken to the ground.
Despite Jackson’s attack, other responding deputies swiftly intervened, managing to eventually subdue the inmate. The 45-year-old deputy involved in the altercation incurred moderate injuries to his face and was promptly treated and released from a local hospital.
The incident underscored the dangers faced by county employees working in correctional facilities, with San Bernardino County experiencing 236 assaults on deputies from 2020-2023, including 51 violent attacks this year alone. Sheriff Shannon Dicus emphasized the seriousness of such violent behavior, noting the dedicated efforts of deputies to uphold order and ensure safety within correctional facilities.
Following the attack on the deputy, attempted murder charges against Jackson were filed with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. As authorities continue to address the issue of violence in correctional settings, the safety and security of both staff and inmates remain a top priority for law enforcement officials.