An inmate at the Boonville Correctional Center is facing an additional felony charge after a reported incident on December 28, 2019.
According to a probable-cause statement, a corrections officer was giving verbal directives to Brendt Whitfield and then applied a short burst of pepper spray to the inmate due to noncompliance.
Whitfield then got out of his bed and went toward the officer in an aggressive manner and struck the officer in the face. The officer attempted to defend himself by striking Whitfield with kicks to keep his distance. However, Whitfield took the officer to the ground and continued to strike him in the facial and body area. The officer was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for his injuries.
Whitfield has been charged with a Class B Felony for Violence to an Employee of the Department of Corrections. Bond has been set at $20,000 cash or surety.
Whitfield’s initial hearing is pending at Cooper County Circuit Court.