BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

DEBORD — Emergency medical personnel responded Sunday morning to the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy following a report of a stabbing.

A caller to Martin County 911 at approximately 9:04 a.m. reported that a male of unknown age had sustained multiple stab wounds.

Patriot EMS responded to the facility on Federal Drive in Debord.

It remains unknown whether the victim was an inmate or a prison staff member.

USP Big Sandy public information officer Charles Barnett said Monday that his office does not disclose information about incidents that do not directly affect or involve the public’s safety and welfare. Unless a situation involves a homicide or is under investigation by outside law enforcement, he said, the Federal Bureau of Prisons handles it in-house and does not make information available to the public.

The high-security penitentiary houses approximately 1,200-1,300 male inmates with close to 100 additional male inmates assigned to an adjacent minimum-security prison camp.