Jail guard hurt in assault

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 16, 2001

A Mower County Jail detention officer suffered a broken hand over the weekend when he was assaulted by a prisoner.

Monday, July 16, 2001

A Mower County Jail detention officer suffered a broken hand over the weekend when he was assaulted by a prisoner.

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According to Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, Greg Hartquist was able to subdue the prisoner after the attack and handcuff him while waiting for assistance to arrive.

The incident occurred at 7:33 p.m. Friday, when Hartquist, a veteran jailer, was moving Frank Towers, 24, of Austin, from one cell block to another in the jail atop the Mower County Courthouse and Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center.

Hartquist was one of two jailers on duty at the time. The other remained in the office area, watching surveillance cameras.

Towers allegedly refused to enter the cell block as ordered. When Hartquist attempted to push him into the cell, Towers turned and resisted again. Hartquist applied a chemical agent, but it had no effect and the prisoner ran away from the jailer to another cell block area.

Moments later, Towers returned and assaulted the jailer, striking him in the face. The jailer fought back, according to Simonson’s account, until the other jailer advised the communications center in the lower level of the LEC that an assault was taking place.

When officers arrived, Hartquist had Towers handcuffed and on the floor outside the cellblock.

Somehow during the scuffle Hartquist broke his right hand, but the prisoner did not suffer any injuries.

Towers faces fourth-degree assault charges in connection to the incident.

At the time of the assault, Towers was being held on a warrant for failure to appeal. Other recent charges against Towers include disturbing the peace.

Depending upon the seriousness of the broken hand, Hartquist will either be off work entirely or on limited duty in the county jail.