Riverside County Deputies Injured in Jail Attack

Four Riverside County sheriff's deputies were seriously injured when inmates in the county jail in Blythe -- three of whom are awaiting trial on murder charges -- attacked and tried to escape, a sheriff's sergeant said today.

The alleged attack was at 2:20 a.m. Sunday, while two deputies were conducting security checks on jail cells at the Riverside County lockup at the eastern end of the county, sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Velarde said.

"During this check, two deputies were assaulted by inmates housed at the facility. Two other deputies responded to aid the victims who were engaged in a physical fight with the attacking inmates," Velarde said. "These two deputies were also assaulted."

The four deputies required treatment at a local hospital, Velarde said, adding that security measures were in place and no inmates escaped.

He said four inmates will face criminal charges from the attack, including attempted murder, attempted escape, conspiracy, and assaulting/injuring a peace officer while serving time in a correctional facility.

They suspects are:

-- Fabian Florence Perez, 30, from Indio. He is accused of fatally shooting an Indio taxi driver during a robbery in 2003;

-- Joseph Roy Scott, 25, from Indio. He is accused of killing his 3-week- old son in Indio in 2008;

-- David Gazcon Jr., 34, from Desert Hot Springs. He is accused in a gang-related murder in Desert Hot Springs in 2004; and

-- Louie Aguilar, 33, from Blythe.

—City News Service