Deseret Morning News
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A Salt Lake County jail inmate attacked an officer and tried to disarm him during a medical visit last weekend before being quickly subdued.
The incident occurred Sunday when Matthew Thompson, 20, was taken to the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray after he had attempted to kill himself by cutting his throat.
An officer took Thompson to the hospital, and while they were waiting Thompson asked if he could use the bathroom.
“Once the officer unhandcuffed him the inmate attacked him and took away his baton and was trying to get his weapon,” Salt Lake County Sheriff’s deputy Shane Manwaring said. “The officer happens to be a defensive tactics instructor so in short order the man was controlled and handcuffed again.”
The officer did suffer a blow to the head but had no serious injuries.
Manwaring said it was standard protocol for only one officer to accompany an inmate of Thompson’s risk level.
Copyright 2008 Deseret Morning News