OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma City law enforcement officers killed a prisoner who took a correctional officer hostage in a county prison on Saturday, officials said.
Law enforcement officials tried to defuse the situation at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, but authorities fired after the suspect held something against the hostage’s neck, Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III said during a news conference.
The correctional officer was safely rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment.
Authorities gave no details of the policeman’s injuries, but Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley said: “I am happy that the detention officer is no longer seriously injured.”
The inmate ran over the policeman while the drugs were being distributed, officials said. The suspect then used the policeman’s keys to free other inmates on the 10th floor of the prison, officials said.
The authorities did not immediately disclose the names of the inmate or the officer who was taken hostage.
As the incident unfolded, protesters went to prison to protest the way inmates are treated inside the facility, KOCO-TV reported.