July 04--CHESTER -- A Chester County Detention Center inmate who police say overpowered an officer and took his gun while seeking medical treatment at a hospital is now accused of trying to shoot the officer before fleeing on foot.
Bradley Aaron Bianco, 21, faces additional charges of attempted murder, resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, escape, and two counts of unlawful taking of a firearm or weapon from a law enforcement officer, Chester County Sheriff Richard Smith said.
Bianco had been in jail since June 21 on domestic violence and probation violation charges when he asked for medical treatment.
While at Chester Regional Medical Center Monday, Smith said, Bianco assaulted a detention center guard and took his gun.
Before escaping on foot, Bianco tried to shoot the officer, Smith said.
No shots were fired. Bianco tried to fire the weapon, but was unsuccessful, Smith said.
With help from Chester police, hospital security, the York County Sheriff's Office K9 team and the State Law Enforcement Division, which dispatched a helicopter, Bianco was captured less than two hours later in a wooded area behind the hospital, Smith said.
The officer was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released, Smith said.
"I thank God that my officer is all right," Smith said. "We pray for a quick recovery of the officer and hope to see him back at work soon."
When Bianco made his escape, Chester Regional Medical Center went on lockdown, securing all exits to try to protect employees, physicians, patients and their families, said Page Vaughn, the hospital's chief executive.
No one was injured and no shots were fired inside the hospital, Vaughn said. The hospital reopened sometime after 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Bianco had been handcuffed and shackled before he made his escape, Smith said.
Authorities would not say why Bianco needed hospital treatment.
Copyright 2012 - The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.
