FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A Flagler County deputy is recovering after he was attacked by two inmates inside their detention facility over the weekend, according to Sheriff Rick Staly.

​According to Staly, the deputy asked an inmate who was heading to a meeting to allow him to search his prayer items for contraband, per protocol.

He said the inmate refused and then violently shoved the deputy. The sheriff said another inmate joined in on the attack, punching the deputy in the head several times to the point that he lost consciousness. Another deputy quickly intervened and deescalated the situation. Sheriff Staley said this incident. is being reviewed, but no policies were violated. 

“These actions were caused by two dirtbags that wanted to attack a detention deputy sheriff, it had nothing to do with policy, nothing to do with process or how they were being treated," Staly said. "They are now in solitary confinement which they are going to stay at and they are now wearing a different color jumpsuit because they’ve shown that they can be violent towards our employees.” 

According to Staly, the deputy has since been released from the hospital and is on administrative leave while he recovers from a concussion.

Staley said that the two inmates involved are being held for first-degree murder and armed home invasion respectively, and he’s now contacted the state attorney saying they do not deserve plea bargains and need to head to prison. 

Staley said they found no contraband on either inmate.