B48) Highlight from year five in prison...Part 1

North Unit, Florence Az. Midnight.

The high light of year five was being attacked in the middle of the night by someone using a sock full of batteries as a weapon. I was attacked by a Hispanic gentleman for reasons unknown.

It was late. Everyone was asleep. I was laying there trying to sleep. Out of the corner of my eye I see someone approaching quickly. I looked up and got my hand in a blocking motion just in time to deflect some of the force of impact.

The attacker had a sock full of batteries. A popular weapon in prison. Though I deflected some of the first blow I unfortunately did not block it all. I was hit hard enough to get my bell rung.

You do actually see stars when hit hard enough in the head. I saw the stars and I heard the ringing as well.

I laid there stunned and unable to move.

The attacker rained down blow after blow with that fucking sock.

I thought I was being stabbed repeatedly. I had no idea it was a sock full of batteries. It felt as if I was being stabbed over and over again on my shoulder, back and side.

As the blows were being rained down I knew I needed to get up.

I forced myself up.

Everything looked like it was in a cloud. I couldn’t really see anything. Every sound was muffled against the ringing in my ears.

My left hand was up high protecting the left side of my head.

My right hand was cocked and ready to fire. As soon as I could identify a target I would unleash a straight right.

I was unable to see my attacker standing directly in front of me.

He continued to use that fucking sock full of batteries to the best of his ability.

Everyone in the dorm was instantly awake and on their feet.

I could do little more than stand there. I was unable to offer any offense and a pathetic defense.

I was being pummeled over and over again.

I felt myself close to collapse. The ringing . The cloud. The pain. The blunt and stabbing pain from bring struck over and over again was taking its toll.

Just before I collapsed someone shouted:

“Five-O”

Everyone fell into their bunks and acted as if they were asleep.

I was clueless. I just stood there. The inmate directly across from me came over and guided me to my bunk (right next to me) and said Five-O.

I laid down and tried to clear my mind. I could not. The ringing would not stop. I could not see. Everything was a blur.

My left hand and arm felt broken. I doubted my ability to raise my left arm again in any type of defensive posture. There was no chance of an offense. I doubted my ability to stand let alone box. I was positive I would not be able to defend myself in round two.

I was in real trouble.

A guard came and walked through the dorm. Everyone played nice. We all pretended to be asleep.

Even in this hellish situation you do not go to the guard. That is a faux pas you cannot ever recover from.

I knew when the guard left I was in trouble. I did not know what to do. I cannot stand or raise my left arm. I feel a combination of pain and terror. I fear what’s going to happen in the next few minutes.

When the guard left two AB's came to my aid. It's almost beyond belief. One took a seat in my chair and scooted up next to me. He leaned over and asked in a hushed voice:

"How you doing"?

"I’m ok. I'm good. I can go. I'm ready" Posturing

"Can you help me up"?

"Please"?

"Will you do that for me"?

I don't think I ever spoke more desperate words. I was pleading more than asking. I feel certain if I don't get some help standing I'm going to get beaten to death right here in my bunk.

Everyone would turn their backs while I was killed.

It's my greatest fear, being killed in prison. ---------------------------No. I take that back. Getting gang raped is my greatest fear in prison. I'd rather get killed than gang raped.

The AB says:

"No. Don't worry about that now. We're going to take it from here"

This can not be happening. People I have been doing battle with for five fucking years (the AB's). One extortion attempt after the next. All resulting in a beating. These guys are my fucking nemesis, my arch enemies. And these are the people protecting me?

These are the men standing between me and death as far as I was concerned.

This does not compute

The two AB's in my cubical are standing sentries projecting solidarity and strength.

For me?

It's inconceivable.

I'm told another AB is at the other end of dorm meeting with the highest ranking Mexican in the dorm.

Convicts don't have many rules. They are feckless thugs by nature. Attacking someone in the dorm, in the middle of the night as they slept is beyond taboo. It's never heard of. No one would do this.

The AB conferring with the Mexicans are following protocol. Basically they want to know what the Mexican's ares going to do about this renegade attacking a white boy while they sleep.

Protocol was clear. In the manual of Conduct Code for Convict. Rule 27 can be found on page sixty four, paragraph three. It clearly states no convict shall bla bla bla....

Its amazing how diplomatic the higher up's can be. No yelling. No screaming. No ranting. No raving.

The AB (talking to the Mexican hierarchy ) asks:

"How you gonna handle this"?

Mexican hierarchy:

"After conferring with my associates we are inclined at this time to look the other way while you handle this. Do as you please. We will not object to retaliation"

Often the party representing the guilty would do the damage. They would beat their own man down. It's damage but its damage control. They could beat the offender while ensuring no permanent damage was done.

If you leave it up to the AB's they might just kill em and be done with it. 

As it turns out this is the second incident for the crazy Mexican.  He was run off his last yard for the same reason.

The hours that passed after the attack were some of the longest hours I had in prison.

As soon as the yard opened the crazy Mexican dashed to the yard office and PC'd up. (PC is protective custody).

I needed medical care.

I went to the Medical office and asked to see the nurse. I was taken into a room for an exam. I told the nurse I fell on the yard while walking the track.

I tell her "I think I broke my arm when I fell"

"Take your shirt off so I can take a look"

I struggle to get my shirt off. I was in pain and not very flexible.

When I got my shirt off I heard her let out a bit of a gasp. She did an about face and left the exam room only to return seconds later. She had the doctor in tow.

The doctor took over from there. No concussion he said but that hand and arm needs to be xrayed.

I was taken to Central Medical. This is where the infirmary was

Highlight from year five in prison.... to be continued.