Authorities: Lake County jail inmate attacked guard, tried to escape

Additional charges were levied against a Waukegan man who officials said attacked a Lake County jail guard and tried to escape while being transferred from a cell to the Waukegan courthouse last week.

Jim Ayala, 21, attacked and tried to steal the Taser of a corrections officer who opened his cell about 11:20 a.m. March 1, Lake County Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said Tuesday.

Ayala was unable to take the weapon, which was secured in the guard's holster, but he did grab a spare cartridge off the guard and threw it at his head, said Covelli, who added that inmate's throw missed the officer's head by a few inches.

Ayala ran and was tackled by another guard, Covelli said. The second officer suffered an injury to his knee in the scuffle and needed a trip to the hospital.

Covelli said the escape attempt was captured by security cameras.

After reviewing the evidence, officials charged Ayala with felony aggravated assault, resisting a corrections officer causing injury, attempting to disarm a corrections officer and escaping control of a corrections officer, Covelli said.

A Lake County judge increased Ayala's bail from $50,000 to $250,000, so he now would need to pay $25,000 to be released from jail pending trial.

Ayala had been taken to jail less than two weeks earlier on charges of domestic battery and resisting a peace officer, according to court records.

Covelli said the injured officer was treated and released from the hospital but will have a follow-up appointment to determine the extent of the injury.