SOMERSET, Ky. -- Pulaski County Sheriff Todd Wood suffered a knee injury Monday afternoon during a scuffle at the Pulaski County Detention Center.
Wood was injured trying to arrest Tommy Vaughn on a felony probation/parole violation when the incident occurred.
"We had heard from jail personnel that a young lady was signing in to see a prisoner, but (Vaughn) would step in and visit instead," Wood said last night. "Obviously he didn't want to give his identification because of the outstanding warrant.
"Yesterday he did that again and jail personnel contacted us, so I went to make the arrest," Wood added.
The sheriff addressed Vaughn and led him out by the arm. When he reached to get Vaughn's ID, Vaughn pulled loose and raced toward the front lobby.
"It's tight quarters when you exit the visitors area of the jail," Wood said. "When I reached for his ID, he pulled away from me and a short foot pursuit ensued."
Wood said he chased Vaughn to the front door where "I stopped, but my knee didn't."
Wood called for backup units, and Pulaski County Jailer Mike Harris, along with deputy jailers Jeremy Osman and J.R. Bates, took off in pursuit of Vaughn. The suspect was captured a short time later on Ham Street -- but not before Osman was also injured slightly when he twisted his knee jumping over a fence.
"It was more excitement than we're used to," Harris said.
"We had sheriff's units surrounding the area moments after (Vaughn) left the jail, and Mike Harris and his deputies apprehended the subject quickly ... that's what matters," Wood said. "We have a man who had a felony warrant against him behind bars. That's our job."
Usually, Wood's job isn't as painful. A former Pulaski County High School basketball star, Wood went through his entire hoops career without a knee injury.
"We'll have to wait until the swelling goes down so we can have an MRI done," Wood said. "It's one of those things that can happen in law enforcement. You do have foot pursuits and injuries like this can occur."
Vaughn is being held at the Pulaski County Detention Center on the parole/probation violation. Wood said fleeing and evading charges will likely be added.
Copyright 2011 - Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, Ky.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
