Two staff members at Tipton Correctional Center were assaulted Wednesday morning by inmates, Missouri Department of Corrections officials confirmed Thursday.
A prisoner punched an officer in the head and was "quickly restrained," DOC spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said.
"When a second officer began to clear the yard in response, another prisoner became argumentative and then struck the second officer," Pojmann said in a statement. "That offender also was immediately restrained. Both officers were seen by medical professionals, and one received stitches for a cut. There were no other injuries."
The facility was placed on a status of controlled movement, which means fewer people are allowed in one place at a time, she said. For instance, yard recreation for inmates is handled in shifts and with smaller groups with controlled movement, she said.
The prison was not put on lockdown, which would have confined all prisoners to their cells, she said.
No property destruction was reported at the facility as a result of this incident, Pojmann said.
"While the majority of offenders in our facilities are cooperative, many have a history of violence and impulse-control issues, and they continue to experience problems in these areas while incarcerated," Pojmann said. "It's a challenging profession. Fortunately, our officers are trained to minimize risks to employees and offenders by de-escalating tense situations and intervening swiftly, decisively and professionally when incidents occur."