Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack says that he will not stand for violence towards any of his staff and Myreik Fryson, 28, Columbus, faces charges after allegedly assaulting two corrections officers in Belmont County Jail. (T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – A Columbus man is on lockdown in the Belmont County Jail after allegedly assaulting jail staff.

Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack said that Myreik Fryson, 28, is accused of attacking two corrections officers in the jail Feb. 9 around 11 p.m.

“Usually during 11 p.m. every night, we lock down the inmates from the day room to their individual cells, the two CO’s were telling the inmate to go back to his cell with verbal commands which he wouldn’t do,” Zusack said. “They tried to escort him back, at that point, the inmate turned around and punched them both in the face – one being a male CO and one being a female CO.”

According to Zusack, Fryson allegedly admitted that he was in the wrong following the incident.

“I just can’t tolerate my CO’s or any of my staff being assaulted like that. They have a hard enough job anyways,” Zusack said. “This is something I won’t tolerate and I will follow charges every time I get a chance to.”

Fryson was booked into the jail on Feb. 9 on one count of failure to appear and one count of contempt and is currently awaiting arraignment. He now faces two charges of assault on a peace officer and, if convicted, faces between 6 and 12 months in jail and $2,500 in fines.

Zusack said that the two officers had minor injuries on their faces and have since returned to work.