Testimony: Hospitalized suspect tried to take gun, Mace from deputy during assault

The inmate stood on his hospital bed, cursed the sheriff’s deputy who was watching him and tried to take his Mace and gun, the deputy testified.

Judge Gary Kamp found there was probable cause to continue the criminal case against Stan Lanier Ford, 23, of St. Louis, after a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Ford faces charges of first-degree assault of a law-enforcement officer, second-degree assault on a law-enforcement officer and felony attempting to escape from custody.

Ford was under the watch of Cape Girardeau County Jail Sgt. Thomas Davis on Nov. 25 because he had been arrested by Cape Girardeau police officers and charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree domestic assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action from a Nov. 22 incident.

Ford shot through the floor of a sport-utility vehicle to persuade a man and woman to give him $300, according to a probable-cause statement field by officer Jonathan Brotz. Ford also struck the woman several times, Brotz wrote.

Ford was being treated at Southeast Hospital for seizures, Davis said.

He was calm until Davis told him he would be taken to the Cape Girardeau County Jail, Davis said.

Although Ford’s ankle was restrained to the bed, he stood on the bed and yelled profanities at Davis.

Davis pushed Ford down onto the bed, but Ford stood a second time, Davis said.

When Davis tried to get Ford to sit again, Ford tried to hit Davis in the face. Davis grabbed Ford’s hands, he testified.

When Ford tried to grab Davis’ Mace, Davis grabbed Ford’s right wrist with his left hand, prompting Ford to bite Davis’ forearm, he testified.

Ford did not bite through Davis’ jacket and long-sleeve shirt but left scratches, Davis said.

As Ford bit, he tried to grab Davis’ loaded firearm from the holster, Davis said. He was not able to get the weapon because it was in a specialized law-enforcement holster.

“Did the holster save your life?” assistant prosecuting attorney Frank Miller asked.

“It absolutely did,” Davis replied.

Davis pulled Ford’s hand from his gun and punched Ford several times in the abdomen, Davis said.

The struggle ended up on the floor, with Ford escaping from his ankle restraint, Davis said.

Davis contained Ford until security guards came into the room, Davis said.

Hospital staff stepped away as Ford seemed to calm, Davis said. Then Ford stood, ran toward a hospital window and attempted to jump through the glass, Davis said.

“He hit the window and bounced off of it,” Davis said.

Davis and the guards put Ford back on the bed and applied more restraints, Davis said.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

Southeast Hospital, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

100 Court St., Jackson, Mo.