Deputy pistol-whipped by inmate

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - A deputy was injured during a scuffle with an inmate at the Hamilton County Government Center in Noblesville. The incident happened at around 11:45 a.m. Friday morning.

Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Carter held a news conference regarding the incident Friday afternoon.

Carter said Deputy Dan Trowbridge was escorting Joshua Lindsey, 31, to court to be sentenced. Six weeks ago a jury convicted Lindsey of armed robbery. As Deputy Trowbridge was removing Lindsey's handcuffs, he attacked Trowbridge. A scuffle ensued over the gun and it was discharged once. No one was hit by the bullet. However, at one point, police said Lindsey was able to pull the gun back and pistol-whip Trowbridge.

His attorney was in the courtroom when the shot was fired.

"Then I heard the Bailiff Donna Hunter scream to get out of there. It was a blood curdling scream I will never forget," said Defense Attorney Andy Barker.

Barker didn't leave, instead he decided to open the door to the secured room to see what was happening.

"When I opened it I saw my client with a gun pointed in a direction. I couldn't see who he was pointing at or how many people were in there," said Barker.

Reinforcements quickly responded. Officers used a stun gun on Lindsey to subdue him. Trowbridge, a 15-year veteran of the sheriff’s department was taken to Riverview Hospital. The scene was quickly secured.

Carter said he had no doubt Lindsey intended to kill Trowbridge.

"We don't know if he had planned to do this. If it was something that came to him quickly, or whether or not it was premeditated," said Carter.

He said his office will review procedures as to how to deal with inmates.