Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

An Adult Correctional Institutions officer has been charged by state police with misdemeanor simple assault after an inmate alleged the guard physically forced him into a bathroom at the state prison and struck him several times.

The officer, Donald Bell, turned himself in to State Police headquarters on Tuesday, state police Lt. LeRoy Rose, assistant detective commander, said today. He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance.

According to police, the incident followed a verbal confrontation between the two.

Rose said that, according to an affidavit on the arrest, witnesses corroborated seeing the alleged forcing of the inmate by Bell from a rear kitchen into the bathroom, but they did not see the alleged striking.

The inmate was not seriously injured and did not need to be taken to a hospital, according to the police and corrections. Rose said the inmate had "some minor injuries, which were consistent with assault."

Bell is accused of commiting the assault on July 3 at the ACI Intake Center in Cranston, Tracey Z. Poole, the state Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said yesterday.

Poole yesterday said the inmate has been moved into protective custody at the ACI. She said the corrections department's special investigations unit learned of an alleged assault on an inmate on July 3 and contacted the state police. The corrections officer was put on administrative leave with pay and continues to be on leave.

Poole said there will be a disciplinary hearing -- which is separate from criminal proceedings -- and that the investigation is ongoing.

Bell is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge on Aug. 15 in Kent County District Court.

This morning, two former ACI guards were found guilty by a jury of simple assault on four inmates in 2005 and 2006.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

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