La Salle County Jail deputies injured in inmate attack

“The swift action by the correctional deputies to disarm and control the defendant undoubtedly saved possible injuries to our medical staff as well as prevented a possible hostage situation and escape attempt.”

—  La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton

Authorities said a 39-year-old Machesney Park inmate in jail on charges for fleeing and eluding police from an incident in Tonica attacked a nurse Thursday and injured two correction officers.

At 6:54 p.m. Thursday, the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office said Brad M. Johnson attacked an attending nurse with a metal shank made from a piece of leg brace stabilizer bar. He pushed the nurse against the wall and threatened her with the sharpened shank, deputies said.

Correctional deputies were able to gain control of Johnson, but in the process, the officers received injuries from the inmate wielding the shank, according to the sheriff’s office. Both deputies were cut in the neck and received medical treatment. The nurse was not injured in the incident.

From this incident, Johnson was charged on three counts of aggravated battery and unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution. His bond was set at $500,000.

“The swift action by the correctional deputies to disarm and control the defendant undoubtedly saved possible injuries to our medical staff as well as prevented a possible hostage situation and escape attempt,” said La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton. “Our correction staff is to be commended, they did a great job under very hazardous conditions. I am very proud of them.”

Johnson was in jail on charges of felony aggravated fleeing and eluding plus numerous traffic charges following a high-speed chase early April 9 from La Salle to rural Ottawa. The sheriff’s office said they were dispatched at 12:12 a.m. Friday to Aces and Eights Bar in Tonica, where a suspect allegedly displayed a gun, and deputies were alerted to a suspect vehicle described as a red pickup truck with Arkansas plates. The truck was spotted on Interstate 39 about a mile south of U.S. 6, but instead of halting the driver headed down U.S. 6 and finally crashed into trees at 1498 U.S. 6.

Johnson was arrested and charged with the two felonies plus driving while revoked, driving in the wrong lane, multiple counts of speeding, reckless driving, failure to report an accident and assorted moving violations.

That incident still is under investigation by the sheriff’s investigators and the state’s attorney’s office. Further charges may be filed.