A Fulton County Sheriff’s Office detention officer remains hospitalized after suffering wounds at the Fulton County Jail when a murder suspect stabbed him in the neck on Sat., March 8.
Bakari Stokes-Martin, 18, stabbed Detention Officer Rico George behind his left ear just after 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to a Fulton County Sheriff’s Office news release.
George had asked Stokes-Martin to remove a blanket that covered his upper body while he was out for free time. The Sheriff’s Office reported that Stokes-Martin became agitated and charged the detention officer with a shank, a homemade weapon, that had been concealed under the blanket.
Deputies and detention officers responded and detained Stokes-Martin. They found five shanks when they searched him.
George was taken to Grady Hospital and underwent emergency surgery. According to the news release George was in stable condition at the hospital and expected to recover.
Stokes-Martin has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault against law enforcement officer when engaged on official duty, four counts of possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, five counts of possession of dangerous weapon or drugs by an inmate, and one count of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers by use of threats or violence.
Stokes-Martin had been arrested by the Atlanta Police Department on Feb. 10, 2024, for murder and other charges. He is being held without bond. His first appearance hearing for his new charges was on March 10 where he received no bond.
“Thank you to the doctors and nurses at Grady Hospital as they have done a phenomenal job in caring for Officer George. He is in good spirits and hopefully going home soon,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat.
Fulton County and the sheriff are under a consent order with the U.S. Department of Justice about conditions at the jail. A jail monitor was appointed on Feb. 21 to oversee improvements.
