Inmate allegedly tries to strangle Pierce County corrections deputy
A 21-year-old Tacoma woman could be charged with attempted murder after being accused of trying to strangle a veteran corrections deputy in the Pierce County Jail earlier this week.
Kady Jo Paxton made a first appearance in Superior Court on Friday and was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail, pending a formal charging decision Tuesday.
Prosecutors are considering attempted murder and assault charges.
“I’m grateful that our deputy was not more seriously injured,” Sheriff Paul Pastor said in a news release. “This is an example of the dangers our people face.”
The attack took place about 12:20 a.m. Thursday, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Paxton allegedly complained to a corrections deputy that the toilet in her cell wasn’t working.
The deputy, a 17-year veteran, was walking Paxton to a new cell when the inmate jumped on her back and tried to strangle her with a jail-issue towel, the news release states.
Investigators later discovered the towel had been knotted at the ends, “creating makeshift handles for leverage,” according to the release.
The 44-year-old deputy used her radio to call for help and then rolled Paxton off her and onto some stairs, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Paxton allegedly grabbed the deputy’s radio cord and tried to drag her down the stairs, too.
“Another inmate reported seeing the deputy in a headlock while being punched,” the release stated. “The deputy eventually gained control as other corrections deputies arrived to assist.”
Investigators later determined Paxton had intentionally clogged the toilet in her cell by cramming multiple items into it.
Paxton was booked into the jail Monday on a car theft charge after she was accused of taking a relative’s SUV without his permission.
She pleaded not guilty to that charge Tuesday and was being held in lieu of $3,500 bail.
Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644, @TNTAdam
This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Inmate allegedly tries to strangle Pierce County corrections deputy."