WCSO: Inmate charged with assaulting other inmate

WILLACY COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Willacy County inmate is facing additional charges after assaulting another inmate last week.

According to the Willacy County Sheriff's Office, inmate Jose Arturo Salinas is now facing charges of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and tampering with physical evidence.

_{Jose Arturo Salinas (Willacy County Sheriff's Office)}

The charges stem from an incident on April 17, the post stated.

On April 17, jail staff reported to dispatch that an inmate, Luciano Gutierrez Jr., had fallen from his bunk and hit his head. Jail staff reported that Gutierrez had cuts on his head, and when asked what happened, Gutierrez did not wish to answer.

Gutierrez was transported to the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen approximately 30 minutes later.

Deputies responded and attempted to speak with other inmates that housed the cell, but they refused to cooperate, the post stated. Investigators then conducted a follow-up investigation, where they learned that Gutierrez had been assaulted by another inmate, causing him to fall down and hit his head.

On Thursday, the sheriff's office announced that Salinas was charged with the two new charges, both of which are felonies.