WINDSOR – Six inmates, four serving life sentences for first degree murder, were charged this week with assault on several correctional officers at Bertie Correctional Institute.

On Aug. 19, two BCI officers stated they saw a cell phone in the possession of one of the inmates and were escorting him out. While escorting the inmate out, another inmate appeared to have been given the phone.

According to information supplied by the Windsor Police Department, one of the correctional officers was struck by an inmate. Four other inmates were then seen running to the area and began assaulting the officers. The police report stated that during the incident several inmates were seen kicking the officers with steal toe boots, some were seen caring batons which were taken from the officers and one inmate is seen striking an officer with a broom handle.

Three officers were transported to Vidant Bertie Hospital for serious injuries and several others were treated for minor injuries.

After investigating the matter, six inmates were charged with one count each of assault with deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury for each of the three officers that suffered the most serious injuries.

Those charges were filed against Jay Brook, Zebroan Artis, Ricky Lytch, Joseph Canady, Kyle Bunch and Michael Willis.

The NC Department of Corrections website revealed that Lytch, Canady, Bunch and Willis were each serving life terms for first degree murder. Brooks was serving an 18-year sentence for second degree murder and Artis was behind bars for a three-year term for felony breaking and entering.

Those six inmates were transferred Thursday to Polk Correctional Institution in Granville County.

According to Lt. Ricky Morris of the Windsor Police, DOC administration staff have taken this assault very seriously and are working very hard to investigate the matter internally as well as ensure the safety of both officers and inmates in the facility.