October 1, 2020 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department is reported to have had an incident involving an inmate on Saturday, September 19, 2020.
As information released by the Center Police Department was deemed inaccurate by the Sheriff's Department relating to an incident in the Shelby County Jail, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released information regarding the report which involved the inmate on September 19, 2020.
An inmate was using a designated inmate telephone in the jail. The inmate knocked on a secured door to gain entrance into the hallway. Upon hearing the knock, Correctional Officer Daniel Mendez approached the inmate to address the situation. The control board operator unlocked the hallway after seeing that Mendez was present with the inmate. The inmate entered the secured hallway at 14:31.
Once in the hallway, the inmate began demanding requests from Mendez. Knowing the inmate has a history of violent tendencies; Mendez began talking to the inmate in the hopes of deescalating the situation and removing him from the hallway.
- At 14:32, Correctional Officer Adam Ramirez entered the secured hallway to provide assistance.
- At 14:52, 21 minutes after the inmate entered into the hallway, dispatch phoned the only SCSO deputy to assist with the situation. At the time of the call, the deputy was responding to an incident on FM 417 in Center. The deputy immediately left the scene and went in route to the SCSO. (The original release stated dispatchers were unable to reach SCSO deputies due to limited radio communication, and that information was incorrect.)
- At 14:52, Correctional Officers Lucas Brazzel and Hayden Jordan entered into the secured hallway to assist Mendez and Ramirez. The officers began to escort the inmate from the hallway and the inmate became combative. The inmate began assaulting the officers.
- At 14:53, dispatch phoned the Center Police Department and requested immediate assistance from any available officer.
- At 14:53, correctional officers deployed pepper spray on the inmate to regain control of the situation.
- At 14:54, correctional officers removed the inmate from the hallway and secured him in a cell.
- At 14:57, CPD Officer Michael Davidson arrived at the SCSO.
- At 14:59, Officer Davidson entered the SCSO front door and entered through the secured hallway and was inside the jail at 15:00.
- At 15:02, Officer Davidson exited the secured hallway and went out of the front door of the SCSO.
- At 15:02, CPD Officer Bubba Lee arrived at the SCSO but never entered the facility.
- At 15:03, the SCSO deputy arrived at the jail and entered the facility.
EMS was then contacted and arrived at the Shelby County Sheriff's Department to examine the jailers for head injuries.
Sheriff Willis Blackwell stated, “The training and quick response our correctional officers executed, diffused what could have produced a much more dangerous situation. I am very proud of their actions and commend these four men on an excellent job done.”
“I am so proud of the job done by our correctional officers,” stated Jail Administrator Jericka Moore. “These men will never receive the credit they are due for the protection they provided our jail. Even after being injured, they joined together and secured our jail from any further danger. I am grateful for their actions, and I am honored to have such a strong group of correctional officers at this jail.”
According to Shelby County Jail records Landon Yarbrough, 32, of Center has been charged as of September 22, 2020, with two counts of assault on a public servant, felony 3; criminal mischief, misdemeanor b; and escape, felony 3. Yarbrough was issued another charge of escape, felony 3, on September 23, 2020, suggesting a second attempt.
September 29, 2020 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department is reported to have had an incident involving an inmate on Saturday, September 19, 2020.
At this time, information has not yet been released. What is known is an inmate allegedly assaulted two jailers and dispatchers had difficulty reaching deputies for assistance with radio communications being limited.
Center Police Officers were requested for immediate assistance at around 2:56pm, as the inmate had been released from his cell and allegedly injured the jailers by the time Center Police Officers Robert Lee and Michael Davidson arrived.
The inmate was immediately restrained and escorted back to his cell by the Center PD officers without further incident.
EMS were then contacted and arrived at the Shelby County Sheriff's Department to examine the jailers for head injuries.
According to Shelby County Jail records Landon Yarbrough, 32, of Center has been charged as of September 22, 2020, with two counts of assault on a public servant, felony 3; criminal mischief, misdemeanor b; and escape, felony 3. Yarbrough was issued another charge of escape, felony 3, on September 23, 2020, suggesting a second attempt.
Once further information has been gathered, it will be added to this report.
