BELLEVILLE • Thirteen inmates in the St. Clair County jail face additional charges of interfering with officers after they allegedly tried to keep a fellow inmate from being transferred for a suicide watch.

St. Clair County Sheriff's Sgt. Thomas Trice said the inmates already had been under lockdown for a previous incident in the jail and apparently feared they would be subject to additional punishment because of the inmate threatening suicide.

The incident occurred late Friday. Charges were filed Wednesday.

Trice said corrections officers tried to remove the inmate who threatened suicide, but the suspects formed a line to block them. Two inmates allegedly struck the officers, one of whom had to be treated at a nearby hospital for a cut to his forehead.

Trice said Richard Miller, 33, of Cahokia, and Odis M. Rucker, 27, of Alorton, were charged with aggravated battery and obstructing an officer. The other 11 were charged with obstructing and resisting.

Trice said the inmate who threatened suicide was moved to another part of the jail.