Inmate Injures Three Custody Deputies at Santa Barbara County Jail

Three Santa Barbara County Jail custody deputies are recovering after being attacked by an inmate at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says the inmate attempted to hang himself in his cell, and when two custody deputies entered the cell, he attacked them. The inmate struck a custody deputy in the head and than ran out of the cell, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The custody deputies then unsuccessfully tased the inmate who continued to fight and resist. Additional custody deputies came to help and the inmate was eventually restrained and placed in handcuffs. Two other custody deputies were injured in the process.

Three deputies in all were taken to the hospital for medical treatment and eventually returned to work. Neither deputies nor the inmate were identified.

The Sheriff’s Office says that “same inmate was under investigation for an assault on a group of inmates the same day in a dormitory housing unit.”

The inmate now faces charges of battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest. That criminal complaint will be send to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.