Inmate Is Stabbed at North County Jail

CASTAIC — An inmate was stabbed and received head injuries during a fight with two prisoners at the North County Correctional Facility, a sheriff’s deputy said Wednesday.

Authorities said Benny Alkano, 26, was injured Tuesday just after 6 p.m. when he was stabbed three times. Two men, Miguel Martinez, 26, and Frankie Trevino, 25, were arrested in connection with the attack, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Killeen said.

Although access to knives is strictly prohibited for inmates, Killeen said inmates have always found ways to make their own weapons.

“There’s a lot of jail-made weapons that they will use as a stabbing weapon,” Killeen said. “They sometimes file down a toothbrush and use that.”

Alkano, who is facing burglary charges, was taken to County-USC Medical Center where he underwent surgery for a stab wound to his abdomen.

After being treated at the jail’s clinic for a minor injury to his lip, Trevino was also taken to County-USC Medical Center. Trevino and Martinez were both arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Killeen said.

Trevino was in the jail on suspicion of driving with a suspended license; Martinez on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, deputies said.

Killeen said he was unaware what started this most recent fight at the facility, but said anything could be possible.

“One of the last fights we had up there was over a candy bar,” he said.