A group of prisoners broke out of a cell in Weatherford, Texas, last month to help a jailer who had an apparent heart attack, it was reported this week.
At least eight prisoners were locked in a holding cell in the basement of the District Courts Building on June 23, when the guard who was watching them, slumped over, unconscious.
“He just fell over,” inmate Nick Kelton told WFAA. “Looked like an act. Could have died right there.”
The inmates began to yell for help, hoping to attract attention for the injured guard. When no help arrived the group broke out of their cell.
“We were worried they’re going to come with guns drawn on us,” Kelton told WFAA.
They couldn’t find a pulse on the guard, so the inmates began to cause a commotion, trying to create enough noise to alert deputies above.
“They thought it was a fight,” inmate Floyd Smith told WFAA. “They thought we were taking over.”
Parker County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Speegle ran downstairs and found the inmates standing over the guard, before he returned them to the holding cell.
“He had keys,” Speegle told WFAA. “Had a gun. It could have been an extremely bad situation.”
Deputies then started CPR before paramedics arrived, shocking the guard, who regained a pulse.
“He’s a good man,” Kelton said.