Inmate pleads not guilty to punching, pulling guard’s hair out

Published 4:05 pm Thursday, November 29, 2012

An inmate who allegedly threw a violent tantrum on Nov. 18 and fought guards pleaded not guilty to charges Thursday in Mower County Court.

Renae Nicole Flood, 28, of Austin, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of fourth-degree assault against a correctional employee.

Flood was reportedly arrested for an unrelated assault in Austin on Nov. 18, placed in a cell and told her children would have to stay with her ex-boyfriend. According to the court complaint, Flood punched herself in the face several times and started banging her head against the wall when she heard that.

Email newsletter signup

Flood then allegedly wrapped a blanket around her head. Guards entered her cell to intervene. Flood swung at one guard and scratched the guard’s eyelid, according to the report. While a police officer at the jail sprayed mace at Flood, she allegedly hit another guard in the head and pulled out a tuft of the guard’s hair.

Before Flood could be interviewed by authorities, she allegedly passed out. The court complaint states her blood-alcohol content was .17.

Flood has as hearing Jan. 10 and a pretrial March 28, 2013.