An inmate at the Olympia City Jail was charged with two counts of a felony after allegedly attacking two corrections officers who entered her cell to remove an object blocking the view of the surveillance camera.
Alexandria Josephine Ridley, 48, was arrested on June 28 and was being held on suspicion of property damage. The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney charged her with two counts of third-degree assault on July 5.
Olympia police said the alleged assault happened on July 1, when two corrections officers attempted to remove something blocking the camera’s view into Ridley’s cell.
One corrections officer said that when he tried to enter Ridley’s cell, the inmate stood in the doorway to stop him. He asked another officer to remove the item blocking the camera, which they believed was a piece of paper, using a mop.
As the second corrections officer attempted to get the object off the camera, Ridley grabbed his hand and pushed him, he said. The suspect grabbed his neck and arm when the other officer stepped in after the assault.
One of the two officers then took Ridley down to the ground and handcuffed her. No one was injured.
A corrections officer said the inmate had covered her camera multiple times in the past. Ridley told police that she believed the officers were spying on her as she used the bathroom. She admitted to covering the camera using a blanket to block its view.
The inmate denied touching or assaulting the officers but said she did try to prevent them from reaching the camera.
Olympia police said a video recording of the incident showed a brief physical struggle between Ridley and one of the corrections officers. The alleged assault of the other officer was not caught on camera as it was blocked at the time.
Ridley was booked into the Thurston County Jail for two counts of third-degree assault.
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