An inmate at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility was placed in segregation after he allegedly attacked a female officer early Monday morning.

Antonio Mikhal Johnson, 24, is serving a 10-year sentence stemming from a 2008 Johnson County sexual-abuse case.

According to the Iowa Department of Corrections, Johnson stuffed a piece of clothing into a correctional officer’s mouth and wrestled her to the floor during a routine check around 3 a.m.

Two inmates allegedly heard the commotion and pulled Johnson off the officer. She was then able to activate her emergency alert and security staff immediately responded to provide aid, reports said.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the incident. Medical and psychological staff are attending to the needs of the officer.

According to Iowa Department of Corrections online records, Johnson was tentatively scheduled to be released in April 2012 before the incident.

— by Jordan Fries