An inmate at the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning, is facing charges of simple assault, aggravated assault and harassment after physically hurting a correctional officer there in a fracas at 5 p.m. Oct. 3

Nesquehoning police said Walter M. Hess, 31, was informed by a correctional officer that he was being placed on 48-hour lockdown for violating prison rules, but he refused to leave his cell and began taunting the corrections officer in boxer-like actions, waving his fists at the officer.

Police said after the corrections officer and a second officer entered the cell to remove Hess, he began swinging and flailing his arms and a struggle ensued. At one point during the struggle, Hess got his finger into the officer’s mouth, hooking his cheek and causing tearing to the inside of the officer’s cheek, cutting his gums in multiple places. The officer also suffered an abrasion to the forehead and a cut on his upper lip.