Inmate attacked guards at Sedgwick County jail, sheriff’s office says

A woman attacked two Sedgwick County jail detention deputies, sending one to the hospital with potentially serious injuries, an official with the sheriff’s office said.

The two deputies were preparing to transfer Stephanie D. Beltz, an inmate at Sedgwick County jail, from booking to housing at around 8:50 p.m. on Thursday when she assaulted them, Sgt. Lanon Thompson said in a news release on Friday.

Beltz had been arrested by Wichita police and booked into jail on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass.

“Part of the procedure in moving an inmate from booking to housing includes having the inmate showered, searched and the issued clothing. During this procedure, the inmate became non-compliant and combative,” Thompson said.

“The detention deputies attempted to gain control of the inmate and the inmate assaulted the deputies,” Thompson said.

One of the deputies had minor injuries and the other had “potentially serious injuries” and was admitted to an area hospital, Thompson said.

Beltz was re-booked into jail on suspicion of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, jail records show.

On Friday afternoon, the deputy was released from the hospital and was expected to return to work in about two weeks.

This story was originally published October 19, 2018 at 3:26 PM.