Texas Jail Inmates Broke Out Of Their Cell To Help A Sick Guard, Probably Saved His Life
A group of Texas jail inmates broke out of their cell to help a guard who had fallen sick, risking their safety and freedom but saving the guard’s life in the process, WZZM (Grand Rapids) is reporting. The incident happened on June 23, but the incident is only now being reported in the media.
Nick Kelton, along with at least seven other inmates, was locked in a small holding chamber beneath the Parker County District Court’s Building in Weatherford, Texas (about 40 miles from Fort Worth), awaiting his court appearance that day.
Feeling peachy at Parker County Peach Festival in Weatherford on Saturday. https://t.co/1AsrJDVOkB pic.twitter.com/kNIfoUr5rv
— Durango Jones (@DurangoTexas) July 6, 2016
He and the other inmates were laughing and joking with a guard, who was posted outside their cell.
All of a sudden, says Kelton, the guard, whose name is not being released, slumped over.
“He just fell over. Looked like an act. Could have died right there.”
Kelton and the other inmates started shouting for help. Realizing that help might be a long time coming – the men were in the building’s basement, behind multiple locked doors – the jail inmates did the only thing they could think to do, and they broke down the door and rushed to the guard’s aid.
At this point, it bears noting that the inmates risked their lives and their freedom by coming to the guard’s aid. By breaking down the door to their cell, they could have been charged with destruction of property or even attempted escape. Making the situation potentially even more dangerous, when help did arrive, the guards could have very well thought the inmates were up to no good and responded with force.
“We were worried they’re going to come with guns drawn on us.”
On seeing that the guard had no pulse, the inmates went into overdrive. They began screaming, banging on doors, and eventually creating a ruckus.
Inmate Floyd Smith says that the guards feared they might have had a riot on their hands.
“They thought it was a fight.They thought we were taking over.”
Parker County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Speegle echoed similar sentiments.
“[The sick guard] had keys. Had a gun. It could have been an extremely bad situation.”
In fact, as the guards were arriving, one of the inmates reached for the fallen guard’s radio – he said he was going to call for help – but to the responding guards, it could very well have looked like the inmate was reaching for the guard’s gun.
While Speegle herded the inmates back into their cells and tried to assess the situation, other guards began doing CPR on the stricken officer.
Capt. Mark Arnett says that the inmates undoubtedly saved the guard’s life.
“He could have been there 15 minutes before any other staff walked in and found him.”
Kelton, who admits that he is a meth addict and is doing his fourth stint behind bars, wants it known that just because he has a drug problem, he’s still a human being and has compassion for other human beings; even those who would imprison him.
“I watched him die twice. It never crossed my mind not to help whether he’s got a gun or a badge. If he falls down, I’m gonna help him.”
As of this writing, it is not clear if the Texas jail inmates who helped save a guard’s life will be charged with any additional crimes for breaking down their holding cell door.
[Image courtesy of Parker County Jail]
