Inmate restrained after seizing Taser

CELINA - A male inmate was safely brought under control on Monday night after an incident at the Mercer County jail, where the inmate took a correction officer's Taser, according to a news release from Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey.

Shortly before 7:53 p.m., an inmate, who was being held in the intake area due to drugs still being in his system, told a corrections officer that he'd defecated in his pants. According to the release, this is not an unusual occurrence when people are coming down from a drug high.

The corrections officer reportedly removed the inmate from the cell to allow him to shower and change into clean clothes. Once out of the cell, the inmate attacked the officer. A supervisor came to assist, and the inmate managed to gain control of a correction officer's Taser.

The inmate then attempted to get the doors from the intake area to open. He was unsuccessful and patrol officers from Celina Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and sheriff's deputies responded to the scene. The release states the incident was quickly back under control, lasting about 8 minutes.

Two corrections officers suffered minor injuries and were treated by jail medical staff before being transported by sheriff's office staff to Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, where they were treated and released. The inmate reportedly was not injured but was placed in a restraint chair.

"These two corrections officers remained calm throughout the incident giving back-up officers the opportunity to arrive," Grey said in the release. "We continue to see more and more inmates with violent tendencies, I commend the staff and the responding officers for quickly regaining control. This is becoming a dangerous business, even in our small community."

Grey further explained the detention facility's procedures worked as intended. The incident was contained to the intake area, and the inmate was unable to get out.

"No other information will be released at this time as we do not talk about security procedures of the facility," Grey continued in the release.

Mercer County Prosecutor Matt Fox reportedly has been notified and is awaiting the results of the investigation to make a determination on appropriate charges. Mercer County commissioner Greg Homan also reportedly was contacted as a courtesy to inform him of the incident.