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Inmates come to the rescue of detention deputy
The attack was captured on surveillance video.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has released surveillance video of an inmate attacking a detention deputy inside a jail pod.
On Monday at 12:45 p.m., the sheriff's office says 24-year-old Douglas Burden, an inmate at the Orient Road Jail, brutally attacked detention deputy Kenneth Moon, 64.
Moon, who was inside the pod by himself with 62 inmates, was clearly outnumbered. He is pictured here after the attack.
Deputies say Burden charged Moon, put him in a choke hold and began strangling him.
Other inmates who witnessed the attack rushed to the deputy's aid. During the struggle, one inmate took the deputy's radio and called for emergency assistance.
"Thankfully, a number of inmates in seven-delta intervened and came to the deputy's rescue," said HCSO Col. Jim Previtera. "We believe (that) saved the deputy's life."
Deputies responded in a matter of 45 seconds and restrained the inmate.
Previtera says he's not sure why Burden attacked Moon but he has no doubt about why the other inmates came to his deputy's rescue.
"The response of the other inmates in this case I think speaks volumes as to the fact that we treat these men and women that are held in our facilities with a lot of respect," Previtera said.
Previtera says he also thanked those inmates in person. He's also sending the inmates' attorneys a letter of thanks from the sheriff that they can use in their court cases.
Burden was arrested in March on DUI and drug charges. He's now facing an additional charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Since Previtera took over the Hillsborough County jails about a year ago, he says inmate attacks on deputies are down almost 60-percent.
History of attacks on deputies
| Year | # of attacks |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2008 | 56 |
| 2007 | 58 |
| 2006 | 76 |
| 2005 | 74 |
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