ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orlando man is facing additional charges after authorities say he strangled a corrections officer Sunday inside the Orange County jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
An arrest affidavit states the officer was seated at his desk in the jail’s detox unit when the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Anthony Rivera, approached from behind and wrapped an arm around the officer’s neck.
“(The officer) felt he was choked out and had a hard time breathing,” the affidavit says.
Investigators said several inmates stepped in during the attack, helping the officer and holding Rivera on the ground.
One inmate told investigators Rivera had previously asked for help taking the officer down and getting his keys. The inmate said Rivera appeared to choke the officer for about a minute before others pulled him off and restrained him.
According to the affidavit, the officer was eventually able to place Rivera in handcuffs until additional officers arrived.
Court records obtained by News 6 show Rivera was already facing unrelated charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of oxycodone and fentanyl trafficking in connection with an incident last week.
Following Sunday’s incident, Rivera now faces additional charges of battery by strangulation, battery on a corrections officer and escaping.
