CALIPATRIA – Calipatria State Prison (CAL) officials are investigating the death of an inmate as a homicide.
On Friday, March 17, 2017, at 1:50 p.m., two inmates attacked a third on the recreational yard. The yard alarm was activated and all inmates on the yard were ordered to stop and get down. All complied with correctional officers’ orders except inmates Emilio Saldana, 27, and Jose Bonilla, 37, who continued to attack Fred Archuleta, 53.
Staff immediately responded and quickly stopped the attack. One 40-millimeter round was fired. Medical staff arrived on scene and began lifesaving measures. Officers found two inmate-manufactured weapons at the scene.
Archuleta was transported to CAL’s Triage Treatment Area for treatment of stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m.
No staff members were injured in the attack. Saldana and Bonilla, who were also not injured, have been placed in CAL’s Administrative Segregation Unit as the incident is investigated. Inmate movement has been limited to facilitate the investigation. The Office of the Inspector General has been notified.
Saldana was received into California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) custody from San Bernardino County in 2015, to serve a sentence of 51 years to life with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. Bonilla was received into CDCR custody from Riverside County in 2013 to serve a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, possession/manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner and first-degree robbery.
Archuleta was received into CDCR custody from San Bernardino County on Jan. 24, 2006, to serve a sentence of 65 years to life with the possibility of parole for conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a firearm by an ex-felon and criminal gang activity.
Calipatria State Prison opened in 1992. The prison houses about 3,800 minimum- and maximum-security inmates. The prison offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs more than 1,000 people. For more information, visit www.cdcr.ca.gov.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2017
Contact: Lt. Everardo Silva
(760) 348-6002
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