LOWELL >> Nearly 50 uniformed officers and staff members from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office filled the courtroom gallery on Wednesday for the arraignment of an inmate accused of savagely beating a corrections officer at the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction last month.

The group appeared in Lowell District Court in a show of support for the injured corrections officer, who Sheriff Peter Koutoujian said is still recovering, at home with his family, from the attack.

“He wanted to return to work right away,” Koutoujian said following the arraignment. “That was one of the things he told us. We know he needs to take some time to be ready.”

Patrick Litchfield, 32, already with an extensive rap sheet, was arraigned by Judge John Coffey on charges of assault and battery on correctional facility employee, assault and battery with dangerous weapon, assault and battery with dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, intimidating court official, and resisting arrest.

Following Litchfield’s arraignment, he was returned to the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction to be held on his current sentence and pending charges.

Incident reports from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office filed with the court provided a glimpse into the brutal attack that took place on April 26 while the officer was monitoring the “first-tier box yard.”

The alleged attack began when Litchfield punched the officer in the face with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground. One report, based on the review of surveillance footage of the incident, states Litchfield proceeded to kick the officer several times in the head while he was down. Litchfield then gained access to the officer’s radio, and used that to again strike the officer several more times in the head.

Following the beating, the bloodied officer was able to get to the first-tier officer’s station, while Litchfield was subdued and taken into custody by other officers.

The injured officer was treated at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, for a variety of injuries, including a concussion. A report states he required 25 staples to five areas of his head, and 11 sutures to his forehead. He also suffered hairline fractures to both his nose and a finger.

According to a report, the officer said following the assault that he had been “jingling his handcuff key” while monitoring eight inmates in the box yard — an outside recreation yard — when he was approached by Litchfield who stated he was triggered by the jingling. The officer said that Litchfield then told him he felt threatened by him. “Noticing Litchfield’s behavior escalating to a breaking point,” the officer said he was about to call for help, but before he could, Litchfield assaulted him.

The officer said he did not remember anything from the attack.

Kevin Maccioli, a spokesperson for the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office said, as is standard protocol with the office, that they are in the process of conducting a comprehensive review of the incident.

“This whole experience is a reminder of how difficult the job is for officers everyday here in Middlesex County and across this country,” Koutoujian said on Wednesday.

The sheriff described corrections officers as “the silent guardians of public safety,” with their duties to protect carried out behind walls.

“We know when we see firefighters and police in our community, we know what they do for us,” Koutoujian said. “These officers are beyond the walls, in closed environments with some tough people. The community doesn’t really understand what they do to protect us, and they never really get the thanks or the appreciation they deserve.”

The fierce attack is not Litchfield’s first time getting arrested for crimes committed inside the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction.

During one incident in December 2020, Litchfield was accused of using batteries and a disposable razor blade to spark a flame and set fire to blankets, sheets, and jail clothing inside his cell located in the Health Service Unit.

That same year, Litchfield exposed himself to a mental health clinician at the facility, and kicked and punched a fellow inmate.

Other reports show Litchfield has been charged with assault and battery, carrying a firearm without a license, trafficking in knives, driving to endanger, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, and possession of heroin.

According to Lowell District Court documents, Litchfield has a long history of mental illness. He has previously been found not competent to stand trial.

For his latest charges, Litchfield is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing in Lowell District Court, through a video conference, on July 10.

His attorney, Christopher Spring, was unavailable for comment.

Follow Aaron Curtis on X, formerly known as Twitter, @aselahcurtis