Inmates rescued a female correction officer who was nearly raped by a prisoner inside a locked vestibule at the Rikers Island jail complex in Bronx, New York on Saturday night, reports The Daily News.

The inmates somehow ripped the strong Plexiglas from the "A Station" vestibule located inside the Anna M. Kross Center at 8:15 p.m., according to sources. A thin inmate slipped inside and opened the security door so that other inmates could enter. The inmates subdued the assailant, Raleek Young, 27, until other correction officers arrived.

The 5-foot-9 and 290-pound Young allegedly entered the watch post, dragged the female officer into an adjacent bathroom and blocked the security door. The criminal complaint says he tore off her sweater and "placed his lips on her mouth and about her face." He also pulled down his pants and began masturbating while choking her.

Young, who is serving a five- to 10-year sentence for raping a 13-year-old girl in 2007, accessed the watch post by claiming that he had to pass through it to pick up a mattress in another unit.

Most of the attack was caught on surveillance video.

Jail administration called the attack a routine "use of force" incident, which outraged the correction officers who insisted it be labeled a sexual assault. The guards protested the administration's decision by refusing to go to their posts at the 3 p.m. shift, sources said.

Correction Officers Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook persuaded the guards to go to their posts with the promise to take up their cause.

Seabrook was furious Young wasn't immediately arrested and charged with the sexual assault.

"There must be accountability," Seabrook said Monday. "Officers are assaulted every day, and (Bronx DA Robert Johnson) has the audacity to say, 'Not today, bring him back at another time.' I will not tolerate it. I will not stand for it."

Young was arraigned Monday in Bronx Criminal Court and faces several charges, including attempted rape, sexual abuse, forcible touching, assault and harassment.

The correction officer was treated at a local hospital after the attack and released.

"The matter is under investigation," Correction Department spokeswoman Eve Kessler told the Daily News.

Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex.

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