THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010464
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER AND ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
A prisoner was shot inside a court building Tuesday after he broke free from two deputies and stabbed one in the neck with a handmade knife, police said.
The prisoner and the wounded deputy were taken to a hospital. The deputy was treated and released; the prisoner was hospitalized in stable condition.
The incident happened about 8:30 a.m. during a routine escort from the jail to the Circuit Court where the prisoner was scheduled for a hearing, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Chip Chappell.
The deputies guided a group of prisoners into a ``holding area'' in the court building where inmates wait until their cases are called. Just after the three entered the building, the prisoner broke free and grabbed a concealed knife. He lunged at the deputy and stabbed him in the neck, Chappell said.
The wounded deputy drew his pistol and shot the prisoner in the chest, Chappell said.
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Willis said he heard the gunshot from a nearby trailer that serves as his office. He went to see if someone needed help when he saw the deputy coming out of the court building.
``He was hollering, `Get down, get down,' '' Willis said.
Willis said he noticed that the deputy was hurt, but ``he was in control.''
``He was bleeding from the neck,'' Willis said. ``There was blood dripping down from his neck.''
The prisoner was identified as William Leonard Griffin Jr., 22, of Chesapeake who was scheduled to appear in court for a probation-violation hearing.
Griffin has an extensive adult criminal record of more than 30 serious charges dating to 1989, court documents show. Most are violent felonies, and most occurred in Chesapeake.
Griffin was scheduled for another court appearance next week to answer several of the charges, records show.
Chappell said the sheriff's office is withholding the name of the wounded deputy, but witnesses identified him as Roger Rosenberry. The deputy will remain home on sick leave while he recovers, Chappell said.
Chappell said he did not know how the prisoner was restrained during the transfer from the jail to the court building. Typically, prisoners moved in groups are handcuffed together in pairs.
The spokesman didn't know how the prisoner got a handmade knife, called a ``shank'' in jail jargon.
The Police Department and the sheriff's office are investigating the stabbing and shooting. Chappell said Griffin will most likely face more charges.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PRISONER by CNB