A Denver Sheriff Department deputy suffered minor injuries Sunday afternoon when he was assaulted by an inmate at the Downtown Detention Center.
Deputy Patrick Smith was working inside a 60-inmate pod on the jail’s second floor when an agitated inmate asked him to use the phone.
Smith told the inmate it was not allowed at that time, said Simon Crittle, a sheriff’s department spokesman.
Inmate Michael Francis, 22, grew more agitated and approached the deputy behind his desk. Then, Francis began throwing punches, Crittle said.
The scuffle between the deputy and the inmate went to the floor, and other deputies came to help. Smith’s uniform was ripped in the fight, according to a Denver Police Department report.
Smith suffered scratches to his face and neck but his injuries were not serious, Crittle said.
Francis was charged with second-degree assault of a peace officer.
Francis originally was being held on an arrest warrant out of Adams County, Crittle said.
Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or
