Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by James Short.
Police said the assault occurred in March at the Skippack Township state prison.
An inmate at SCI Phoenix in Skippack Township has been charged with felony aggravated assault-attempt to cause bodily injury for allegedly punching a corrections officer three times in the face in a March assault.
Jose Noel Busanet, 51, of the 1500 block of Walters Mill Road, Somerset, PA, was charged by Pennsylvania State Police at Skippack on Sept. 3, per court documents, for the alleged assault that occurred at the Skippack Township state prison.
On March 12, at 7:26 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Unit was notified of an assault on a state correctional officer, per the affidavit.
The victim told police Busanet was being housed in a special unit of the prison, and the victim told Busanet that the closing of the cell doors was not deliberate, and they were not intentionally slammed, police said.
Busanet told the victim, police allege, that if the doors slam, then he was going to “punch y’all in the face.”
The victim continued to talk to Busanet, asking why he wanted to punch officers, at which time, Busanet suddenly hit the officer three times in the face with a closed fist, police said.
The officer fell and began profusely bleeding from the mouth, per the report, and had to receive medical attention.
The alleged assault was captured on video surveillance, police said.
Bail was set at $50,000 cash and a preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 2 at 1:15 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
