US /

Inmates Bust Out of Cell to Save Jailer's Life

Texas prisoners saw him keel over
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 9, 2016 9:31 AM CDT
Inmates Bust Out of Cell to Save Jailer's Life
The jail has now reinforced the holding cell.   (Shutterstock)

Eight inmates in Parker County, Texas busted out of a holding cell to save the life of the guy who put them there. Inmate Nick Kelton tells WFAA that after the guard at the District Courts building keeled over from an apparent heart attack, the prisoners shouted for help and then broke out of their cell and banged on doors until more guards arrived—to find inmates surrounding their unconscious colleague. "We were worried they're going to come with guns drawn on us," Kelton says. Deputies ordered the inmates back to the holding cell and started CPR on the guard, who regained a pulse after paramedics arrived and shocked him.

Inmates say guards thought a riot might be starting, and Parker County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Speegle admits he wasn't sure what was going on at first. The guard "had keys," he tells WFAA. "Had a gun. It could have been an extremely bad situation." Other officials say that the inmate quite possibly saved their jailer's life, since without the ruckus, it could have been 15 minutes before anybody else went down to the cell. "It never crossed my mind not to help whether he’s got a gun or a badge," says Kelton, a meth addict facing his fourth prison term. "If he falls down, I’m gonna help him." But there won't be any similar rescues at the jail: The room the inmates broke out of has been reinforced. (San Quentin inmates once rescued a couple whose boat had capsized in San Francisco Bay.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X