Doña Ana County jail officer stabbed, wounded by inmate

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A Doña Ana County Detention Center officer was hospitalized in stable condition after being stabbed multiple times by an inmate, ABC-7 confirmed with both the sheriff and the county manager on Friday.

Officials identified the inmate involved as 28-year-old Eugene Bennett of Las Cruces, a state detainee housed in a medium custody unit. Jail records showed he was being held without bond while awaiting trial on charges of shooting at a house and criminal property damage following his arrest last July in Los Lunas.

Authorities allege Bennett attacked the jail officer about 7:30 p.m. Thursday during a medication distribution.

The officer, whose identity wasn't released at the request of family, was being treated at University Medical Center in El Paso.

Doña Ana County Sheriff's detectives were investigating the stabbing.