Authorities in Larimer County say two jail deputies were injured earlier this month when an inmate being moved to another cell began kicking, punching and trying to bite guards.
William Scott Pettigrew, 30, is accused in the Feb. 13 assaults of two deputies, the county’s sheriff’s office announced Wednesday.
“Jail security supervisors determined it was necessary to move Pettigrew to a more secure housing assignment after learning he had damaged part of the wall in his cell,” the office said in a news release. “Pettigrew modified a vent cover to obtain a piece of metal and used it to scrape away the mortar between the cinder blocks.”
When guards told Pettigrew he would be moved to another cell, he “made it clear he would not move willingly and would fight deputies if they tried to move him,” the office said.
The jail’s special emergency response team was summoned to move Pettigrew. Pettigrew once again refused to comply and said he would fight the guards, officials say.
“Pettigrew punched two deputies in the face before a Taser was used to gain his compliance,” the office said. “He was restrained and successfully moved to a secure location.”
One deputy was apparently struck in the jaw while another was hit in the eye and face, suffering a bloody nose. Pettigrew had moderate swelling and bleeding on his knuckles from fighting the deputies, authorities said.
The sheriff’s office has presented their investigation into the incident to the county’s district attorney’s office who will determine if charges should be filed against Pettigrew.
Jail records show Pettigrew was being held at the jail on a laundry list of charges, including attempted murder, witness intimidation, sexual exploitation of a child and first-degree burglary. Many of those charges are out of Adams County.
Pettigrew was free on bail when by sheriff’s deputies in Larimer County after he allegedly went to a home and told a person there he was going to kill him.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
