On Saturday, February 13, just after 2:00 pm, Deputy Michael Cascioppo was escorting a nurse inside of one of the housing modules at the Vista Detention Facility in Vista. By way of procedure, a deputy is always with medical staff when inmates are contacted. The distribution of medication inside of a housing module is routine and occurs a couple of times a day at all jails. Due to current COVID protocols and limit exposure, the inmates are locked inside of their cells while medication is being distributed inside of the modules.
When Deputy Cascioppo and the nurse were walking by a particular cell, one of the two inmates inside got the attention of the deputy. The inmate asked if the deputy could pass a food tray to the inmates in the cell next door. When Deputy Cascioppo opened the cell door to oblige, the two inmates rushed out and began assaulting him without provocation. Deputy Cascioppo was punched and kicked multiple times in the torso and head area. As he defended himself, the two inmates pulled him into their cell and continued their violent assault until responding deputies were able to stop the attack and take both inmates into custody. Deputy Cascioppo was able to walk out of the cell on his own but suffered multiple injuries to his head and torso.
Deputy Cascioppo was transported to a local hospital and was released later that night. When spoken to today, his one concern was for the well-being of the nurse. He wanted to make certain the nurse had not been injured. The nurse was able to flee and was not assaulted.
