A Garland County Sheriff's Department detention deputy was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon after he was reportedly attacked by an inmate refusing to go into his cell at the Garland County Detention Center.
According to a news release, Deputy Lee Coatney was attempting to lock down his housing unit when Joshua Edward Boyette, 32, refused to enter his cell.
While approaching Boyette, Coatney called for backup. Due to his noncompliance, Coatney sprayed pepper spray at Boyette, at which point Boyette allegedly attacked him. Additional deputies arrived within one minute and Boyette then complied with the deputies' commands.
Coatney was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs and was later released.
Boyette was charged with second-degree battery, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison. He was being held on two counts of residential burglary. Boyette was sentenced six years in prison in July of 2013 for two counts of residential burglary that occurred earlier that year.
"I want to assure the citizens of Garland County that this type of behavior towards our deputies will not be tolerated, the safety and well-being of our staff is paramount," Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick said in the release.
Local on 06/21/2016