Sheriff's Deputy Seriously Injured In Jail Inmate Assault

BOULDER, CO -- A Boulder County sheriff's deputy estimates he was punched in the head and face at least six times before ending up in the hospital after an assault by a jail inmate on Sunday, Nov. 4, according to a press release from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

Juan Rafael Romero-Robles, 21, an inmate in a medium security module of the Boulder County Jail, became visibly upset and confrontation with a male deputy early Sunday morning when he learned laundry service for his module was not scheduled for that day. When the deputy asked him to leave the module workstation and return to his assigned cell, Romero-Robles refused, and when the deputy attempted to escort him, he began to assault the deputy.

Although the deputy attempted to put Romero-Robles in handcuffs, the inmate remained combative and the two ended up in fighting on the ground as the deputy attempted to defend himself. Other deputies in the area heard the radio call for back-up and they were collectively able to restrain Romero-Robles and place him into a disciplinary module.

The involved deputy was transported to Boulder Community Foothills Hospital for treatment of his head and facial injuries. The attending ER physician determined that the injuries the deputy suffered were severe enough to be classified as serious bodily injury. The deputy was treated and subsequently released from the hospital mid-morning, but will be unable to work again until cleared by a physician for full duty.

Romero-Robles reportedly did not suffer any injury and refused medical attention.

Romero-Robles has been in custody since October 20th, and is being held on the charges of violating a protection order and violating bond conditions, along with a number of failure to appear warrants stemming from original charges that include assault, stalking, drugs, criminal mischief, false imprisonment, and a prior violation of bond conditions charge. In addition to the previous charges, Romero-Robles now faces an added charge of second degree assault on a peace officer causing serious bodily injury, a class four felony, and a disciplinary hearing for jail rule violations.

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Photo courtesy Boulder County Sheriff's Office