Assault at Dartmouth jail leaves inmate, 19, seriously injured

HALIFAX – Police are investigating an assault at a jail in Halifax after a 19-year-old inmate sustained life-threatening injuries Tuesday night.

The assault happened around 10:40 p.m. at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, where a man from Lower Sackville was taken to hospital by paramedics.

A 20-year-old man from Halifax was taken into custody, although there was no immediate word from police on potential charges.

Justice Department spokesman Andrew Preeper says there was a physical altercation between two inmates sharing the same cell.

He says the incident happened after evening lockdown and there is no indication a weapon was used, but that is part of the investigation by jail staff and police.

Preeper says corrections officials are conducting an internal review.

But Progressive Conservative justice critic Allan MacMaster wants more, calling for Justice Minister Lena Metlege Diab to order an independent review of the jail.

The member of the legislature for Inverness says the last two internal reviews on incidents at the jail in November and December produced one-page reports, and that’s not enough.