HEROIC CRIMINALS OF THE WEEK: BREAKING OUT TO HELP STRICKEN GUARD
by Hazed
As a change from a dumb criminal story, here’s a tale about some criminals who broke out of their cell – but had the best of motives to do so because rather than trying to escape, they saved the life of a guard.
The group of crooks were in a basement holding cell in a Texas court. Outside the cell, a single armed guard was on duty, when he suddenly slumped and fell to the ground.
The inmates yelled for help, but when nobody came they broke down the door of their cell and banged on doors to attract other officers. This put them in danger because officers could have thought the prisoners were trying to riot or do a runner.
One of the inmates, Nick Kelton, said, “We were worried they’re going to come with guns drawn on us.” Fellow inmate Floyd Smith said officers thought it was a fight. “They thought we were taking over,” he said. Kelton added, “It never crossed my mind not to help whether he’s got a gun or a badge. If he falls down, I’m gonna help him.”
Captain Mark Arnett said that it could have been as long as 15 minutes before a staff member found the guard, if the inmates hadn’t raised the alarm, and he praised their quick response.
Better hope that future guards don’t fall ill, though, because the cell that the inmates broke out of has now been reinforced.
