ELLIS COUNTY, Texas — An Ellis County detention officer died after being assaulted by an inmate at the county jail Monday, officials announced Tuesday.
Isaiah Bias, 28, was "doing his daily job" in a holding cell around 3:45 p.m. Monday when he was "physically assaulted" by an inmate, Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman said at a news conference.
Bias was then taken to a Baylor hospital in Waxahachie, where he died, according to Norman.
Officials said the inmate, identified as Arron Semeion Thompson, 45, of Ennis, now faces a charge of capital murder.
Thompson was outside his cell during his scheduled one-hour recreation time in the F-Tank area of the jail, according to an affidavit obtained by WFAA. Officer Bias was in the process of putting Thompson back into his cell on the second floor, the affidavit states, and that's when Thompson punched Officer Bias in the back of the head causing him to fall to the ground.
While on the ground, Thompson started choking him from behind with his arm around Bias' neck, according to the affidavit. The document goes on to say, Thompson began striking Officer Bias in the head with his right fist, right knee and right foot. He eventually stopped attacking Officer Bias and returned to the first floor, sat down at a table in the F-Tank area and was then placed in handcuffs, according to the affidavit.
Authorities said the incident was captured on surveillance video. Thompson was arraigned Tuesday, and his bond was set at $2 million, Norman said.
Thompson had been jailed on assault charges when the incident happened Monday. He had been in custody since early November 12, officials said. According to the Ellis County District Clerk, in 2005 Thompson was convicted on two assault charges against a public servant. Then in 2016, he was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Thompson served 8 years for that charged, the district clerk said.
Sheriff Norman was visibly emotional during the news conference Tuesday, as he recounted how Bias had been with the department for six years and was part of the department's explorer program as a teen.
"Occasionally we deal with bad folks," Norman said. "I can honestly say that my staff, over the last day, has dealt with pure evil."
The Texas Ranger Division and the Texas Department of Public Safety are investigating Officer Bias' murder.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.