On Saturday, June 7, 2025, at approximately 1540 hours an officer at the Salinas Valley State Prison was conducting a clothed body search of Inmate Joseph Blacknell III inside of a housing unit. During the search the officer discovered two inmate-manufactured weapons on the inmate, but the inmate began to struggle with the officer before the weapons could be safely retrieved.
While the officer attempted to secure Inmate Blacknell in handcuffs, the inmate fought with the officer. Several other staff members responded, and Blacknell was safely secured. After the struggle, two inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered from Blacknell. A subsequent search of Blacknell’s cell revealed another inmate-manufactured weapon and suspected narcotics.
The primary officer and a responding officer sustained minor injuries during the altercation. Inmate Blacknell was rehoused into the Restricted Housing Unit.
This incident could have been much worse if the responding officers did act quickly to prevent Inmate Blacknell from using the slashing-type weapons on the officer(s). We at the Toughest Beat are glad the officers acted quickly and there were no serious injuries. Staff attacks in CDCR have been on the rise and recently several CDCR officers have been attacked with inmate-manufactured weapons.
In addition to suspected heroin being found in Inmate Blacknell’s cell, there were several Suboxone strips. Suboxone is issued to several inmates by The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and is often used by inmates to sell and/or get high. Suboxone contains buprenorphine which mimics heroin; ever since CDCR began issuing its inmates Suboxone, the drug has been abused and used for illicit purposes.
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