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Mercer County Correction Officers Indicted in Inmate Assault

Howell Township

A Mercer County grand jury returned an indictment last week charging two county correction officers in connection with the assault of an inmate in May 2016, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri reported.

Isaac Wood III, age 41, of Ewing, and Trachell Syphax, age 32, of Trenton, were each indicted on two counts of second-degree official misconduct and one count of third-degree tampering with public records or information.

The grand jury voted not to indict Wood on the aggravated assault charge.

Authorities said on May 11, 2016, while on duty at the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell, NJ, Wood punched an inmate in the face, causing him to fall to the floor.

Wood then kicked the inmate multiple times about the head and body.

The investigation revealed that the inmate did not provoke or resist the officer. Syphax witnessed the assault and did not intervene.

The inmate was transported to the hospital for treatment. Both officers filed false police reports regarding Wood’s use of force on the inmate.

According to correction officials, Wood and Syphax were engaged to be married at the time of the offense.

They have since married. Both were suspended without pay shortly after the May 11 incident.

Despite having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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