No more hot pots for inmates at Sedgwick County Jail after incident
Hot pots are now banned for inmates at the Sedgwick County Jail after an inmate threw scalding water at a detention deputy last week.
“Inmates have traditionally had access to hot water for preparing coffee, tea, and food items like ramen noodles,” Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Branden Stitt previously said. That will no longer be the case.
After reviewing policy, the sheriff’s office decided to remove hot pots from the jail. The decision took effect Monday.
“Inmates will still have access to heated water through tap systems, but personal or common hot pots will no longer be permitted,” a Monday SCSO news release said.
The incident occurred at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, April 14. A deputy was speaking with inmates inside a housing pod when a 20-year-old Wichita man obtained a boiling pot of water and threw it at the deputy, the Eagle reported.
The 30-year-old deputy was taken to the hospital with second-and-third degree burns to the back of his body. He is expected to make a full recovery and has been with the sheriff’s office for two years.
The deputy was able to secure the inmate while other deputies came to his aid. The reason for the attack wasn’t clear as investigators are interviewing other inmates who witnessed it.
The inmate in question has 39 disciplinary incidents since arriving at the jail in March 2024 related to a 2022 attempted rape case from when he was a juvenile, and then was charged with trafficking contraband into the jail, Stitt said. Court records show he has been sentenced in the attempted rape case, but don’t indicate what his sentence is.
He now faces a charge of aggravated battery on an officer.
“Our office remains committed to the safety of our employees,” Sheriff Jeff Easter said in the news release. “We are in close contact with the deputy and his family, and we are praying for his speedy recovery. This type of violence will not be tolerated.”