Benjamin Lavalley (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)
A Baxter County Detention Center inmate is in more trouble following a jail fight during the weekend. Fifty-four-year-old Benjamin Lavalley of Salem is facing charges of third-degree battery and impairing the operations of a vital public facility.
According to the incident report from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, a jailer notified staff a fight was occurring in one of the pods. When staff responded, the door opened, and an inmate came out walking backwards as Lavalley was yelling at him. The inmate claimed he was laying on his bunk when Lavalley attacked him. Bruising was seen on the victim’s face, but he declined medical attention.
Lavalley told another jailer the other inmate had struck him in the leg when walking by his bunk, and he struck back in self-defense. Lavalley had no obvious bruising or injuries, and he refused medical attention.
Camera footage showed the victim laying on his bunk when Lavalley reportedly approached him. Lavalley allegedly yelled at the other inmate, grabbed his hair and struck him in the face several times. The victim walked toward the pod door, but Lavalley reportedly attempted to hit him several more times, but the fighting stopped when the jailer entered the pod.
Lavalley was booked July 17 on a probation violation. His bond is set at $1,000.
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