DENVER — Three deputies with the Denver Sheriff Department were injured Tuesday while attempting to restrain an inmate at the Downtown Detention Center.
Denver Sheriff Patrick Firman told reporters Wednesday that two deputies sustained head injuries while the third suffered a wrist injury. All three were transported to Denver Health for minor injuries and were treated and released.
Firman explained that the deputies were attempting to subdue an inmate who was observed harming himself in the intake center. The inmate, identified as 24-year-old Shyheem Temple, attacked the deputies when they entered his cell, according to Firman.
Temple was awaiting his first appearance in court on a shoplifting charge when the alleged attack occurred. Firman said he is now facing felony charges for injuring the three detention officers.
The Denver sheriff also touched on jail assault statistics during his Wednesday press briefing. He said there had been 30 reported assaults on jail staff with various physical injuries as of July 21, which he explained was right at or below average.
