Nov. 1, 2024
VIROQUA, Wis. – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports two arrests were made following an altercation that occurred in the county jail on Saturday night, Oct. 26 in the city of Viroqua.
According to the Sheriff’s Office at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, correctional officers were alerted, and immediately responded to, a sudden physical assault in one of the dormitory-style cells. Correctional staff separated everyone involved to ensure scene safety and rendered aid to the victim, a sentenced inmate.
The victim was transported to Vernon Memorial Healthcare in Viroqua by Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance. The victim was released from the hospital shortly before midnight and returned to the jail.
As a result of the investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, two sentenced inmates, Zachary James Blackwood, 21, of South Wayne, Wis. and Demandre Andrew Tyshann Frazier, 28, of La Crosse, Wis. were both formally arrested late Thursday morning.
Bail hearings for both Blackwood and Frazier will be scheduled in Vernon County Circuit Court. Battery by Prisoner in the state of Wisconsin is a Class H Felony. Formal charges will be sought through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher. A charge is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Sheriff Torgerson stated that the safety and security of staff, inmates, and those who visit our facility is of paramount importance to me.
“I commend all of my staff not only for their efficient response to this incident, but for what they do each and every day to conduct themselves professionally in a difficult and at times, a dangerous profession,” said Torgerson.
Neither of the two inmates charged are a part of the state inmate population that is also housed at the Vernon County Jail. Vernon County contracts with the state of Wisconsin to house up to 56 state inmates. Those inmates are housed separately from the Vernon County inmates.
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