COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 39-year-old man who was an inmate at the Pike County Jail is now facing new charges after allegedly assaulting a deputy and attempting to steal a transport van last week.
On Jan. 16, deputies from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to U.S. Route 35 West in Wayne Township on a report of an officer in distress. According to the sheriff, when they arrived, they found that two men, Jimmy Mills and a Pike County Sheriff’s deputy, had been involved in a physical fight.
An investigation showed that during Mills’ transport, he was able to remove a portion of the transport cage and began using it to escape from the van, according to the sheriff.
The Pike County deputy reported that he stopped the van to try to prevent Mills from escaping and the inmate used the piece of metal partition to assault him. Mills then allegedly left the secured area and attempted to steal the van.
The deputy said during the struggle, Mills attempted to remove his firearm from his holster before fleeing to a nearby field.
The Pike County deputy was taken to Adena Fayette ER where he was treated for injuries sustained in the incident.
Fayette County deputies assisted in taking Mills, an inmate being transported from the Pike County Jail, back into custody.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, Mills is charged with felonious assault on a law enforcement officer and aggravated robbery in connection to the incident.
Mills is now being held at the Fayette County Jail for new charges as well as charges from the Pike County Sheriff's Office.
