Prison employee on leave during DCI investigation

One Iowa Medical and Classification Center employee has been put on leave as part of an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, officials said.

It's unclear at this time what the DCI is investigating at the state prison in Coralville.

'I can only confirm that we have an investigation underway at the IMCC,” said Alex Murphy, DCI spokesman. 'Because it is an ongoing investigation, I cannot comment further.”

Department of Corrections Spokesman Fred Scaletta said one prison employee has been put on leave as part of the probe.

Danny Homan, president of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 61, said correctional officers who work at IMCC told him an administrator was prohibited Monday or Tuesday from entering the facility during an ongoing investigation.

'He is a management person who's been locked out,” Homan said.

Murphy said he doesn't expect any additional information Wednesday.

IMCC, with 966 inmates, is the first stop for all male offenders entering prison in Iowa. The prison, also known as Oakdale, has an inpatient mental health unit and cares for special needs offenders.