3 Jail Officers Hurt In Uprising

NORTH VERNON, Ind. -- Three jail officers were injured, one of them seriously, in an uprising early Tuesday morning that involved three teen prisoners at the Jennings County Jail.

The Jennings County Sheriff's Department said the teens -- James Smith, 17, Ryan Renfroe, 17, and Roger Bushhorn, 19 -- tried to escape at about 12:30 a.m.

The teens were initially able to take one jail officer hostage, stabbing him four times and placing him in handcuffs.

Two other jail officers who tried to intercede were also attacked. Police said the inmates got pepper spray from a storage cabinet and used it to subdue the other officers, also placing them in handcuffs.

One of those officers was stabbed in the head during that struggle.

Police said the inmates took the officers hostage before they were confronted by Indiana State Police and officers from the sheriff's department and North Vernon Police Department.

Police fired stun guns, forcing the inmates to release the hostages. The inmates were then taken into custody.

The most seriously injured jail officer, Walter Peace, was taken by medical helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. His condition was not immediately known.

The other jail officers -- Shawn McDaniel and Vickie Day -- were treated at a local hospital.

All three inmates were being held at other jails as police investigate the incident.

Smith was held on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, criminal confinement, attempted escape with deadly weapon and attempted escape with serious bodily injury.

Renfroe and Bushhorn were expected to be charged with kidnapping, criminal confinement, attempted escape with deadly weapon and attempted escape with serious bodily injury.

There was a fire at the same jail in January. Police said inmates were responsible for setting that fire.