By Greg Welter
The Chico Enterprise-Record
WILLOWS, Calif. -- A fist fight early Wednesday morning between two inmates at the Glenn County Jail was ended when one of the men was hit with rounds from a Taser stun gun.
Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said the men were allowed outside their cells in B pod about 5 a.m. as part of a normal early morning routine.
A correctional officer assigned to tower duty noticed the two men fighting on the second tier of the jail about 5:05 a.m.
As other inmates were ordered back to their cells, two officers rushed in to break up the scuffle.
Inmate Steven D. Baker, 30, of Orland, stopped fighting when officers threatened to use their stun guns. Inmate Richard Louis Durham, 53, of Willows, reportedly continued the fight, striking Baker in the left eye while he was on the ground, leaving a visible injury.
Officer Greg Norwood fired Taser rounds, striking Durham in the chest and upper arm.
He stopped the attack immediately and fell to the floor.
Durham had been arrested Tuesday on suspicion of felony domestic battery, after he allegedly broke the arm of a woman in a Willows motel room Monday.
Willows police said Durham knew they were looking for him and the suspect turned himself in Tuesday morning.
Baker received first aid for his injuries. Durham received treatment for minor wounds from the Taser barbs and was moved to a pod in another section of the jail.
Baker is being held on $230,000 bail and facing multiple felony charges including false imprisonment. Durham is being held on $195,000 bail for a revocation of probation and charges in connection with the assault Monday.
A report on the fight will be submitted to the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office seeking additional assault charges. Both inmates refused to cooperate with correctional officers when questioned about the reason for the fight.
Jail officials said they aren’t known to be rival gang members.
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