Arizona inmate caught on video holding prison librarian at knifepoint

5years ago

Phoenix news, Arizona news.

An Arizona inmate has been caught by a security video holding a prison employee hostage at knifepoint for about two hours.

The video released by state corrections officials Thursday details the incident that occurred on Dec. 26 at the Lewis prison in Buckeye, showing Timothy Monk who was serving a 97-year term in jail since 1988 grabbing a blade-like weapon out of his shoe and assaulting the prison librarian Allen Hartzell at the floor holding him hostage.

News outlets states that the inmate has already attacked a corrections officer and held her hostage in 2006, prison officials said.

According to the Arizona Department of Corrections officials the video was released to document "the ever-present risks" that face correctional employees.