Butler County Prison officers confiscate shank from inmate after assault
Corrections officers confiscated a shank from an inmate Sunday, March 29, after an assault in Butler County Prison, according to Butler County detectives.
Elijah James Claypoole, 26, of Butler, was charged Wednesday, April 1, by Butler County detectives with one felony count each of assault by prisoner and aggravated assault, and one misdemeanor count each of weapon possession and procurement of a weapon by an inmate following the incident.
Claypoole was being escorted to a cell by a corrections officer before the incident, according to charging documents.
The corrections officer experienced some resistance, according to charging documents, such as Claypoole reportedly turning to the officer, entering their personal space, yelling and lunging at the officer.
When Claypoole entered the cell doorway, detectives said he struck the right side of the officer’s neck and pulled him into the cell, which was out of view of cameras.
Another officer then helped separate the two. The officers backed out of the cell. When one officer reached down to grab a hat that fell off during the assault, Claypoole tried to grab them again.
Claypoole remained aggressive toward officers as a group moved in and shocked him with a Taser.
While searching Claypoole, officers found a 4-inch shank made from the handle of a toothbrush hidden in his sock.
Claypoole’s preliminary hearing has yet to be scheduled.
