On March 1, 2023, at approximately 11:20 a.m., a Lake County Corrections Officer was assigned to transport inmate Jim Ayala, 21, of the 1300 block of Judge Place, Waukegan, from his holding cell to court. The corrections officer opened Ayala’s cell door and Ayala attacked the corrections officer.
Ayala tried taking the electronic control device (Taser) that the corrections officer had secured to his belt, however, the corrections officer was able to keep the device secured in its holster. Ayala was able to obtain a spare cartridge connected to the device and threw the cartridge at the officer’s head. Ayala then ran from the corrections officer.
As Ayala was running away, he was tackled by another corrections officer, who was in the vicinity. While struggling with Ayala, that corrections officer sustained an injury to his knee. Ayala was secured in handcuffs and returned to his cell.
The injured corrections officer was treated at an area hospital for his injury.
After reviewing the circumstances surrounding the attack, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following additional charges for Ayala:
Attempt to Disarm a Corrections Officer (Class 2 Felony)
Resisting a Corrections Officer Causing Injury (Class 2 Felony)
Aggravated Assault (Class 4 Felony)
Escaping Control of a Corrections Officer (Class A Misdemeanor)
Ayala appeared in court on March 4, 2023 on the new charges, where a Lake County Judge increased his bond from $50,000.00 to $250,000.00. Ayala is next due to appear in courtroom T711 this morning.
“This is yet another example of the everyday dangers our correctional officers face. Something as simple as transporting an inmate to a court hearing resulted in the inmate cowardly attacking. Now, the inmate faces numerous additional years in prison for his foolish actions. We wish our injured correctional officer a speedy recovery.”
— Sheriff John D. Idleburg
Ayala was initially being held on the charges of domestic battery and resisting a peace officer, in connection with a February 15, 2023, arrest.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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