Combative State Prisoner Trying To Break Free

An Arizona medical helicopter transporting a state prisoner was forced to make an emergency landing when the inmate began biting and tried to break free from his handcuffs and leg irons Monday afternoon.

The pilot made the emergency landing on Kino Junior High's ball field in Mesa, according to the Arizona Daily News. The inmate, Louis Maraleyna, was being transported to Maricopa County Hospital due to an overdose of some sort when he became combative.

Mesa police spokesman Johnny Lopez told the East Valley Tribune no one was injured in the incident, which took place about 3:15 pm, shortly before school got out.

Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Kathy Bareiss said classes were still in session, but the only disruption came after school was dismissed at 3:25 p.m. when parents came to pick up their children and "found the parking area filled with patrol cars."

She said no one was on that particular field at the time, which the helicopter company told her was the reason the pilot landed there.

"We are concerned about any potential danger for our children," Bareiss said. "Just the fact that the helicopter is landing in a field where children would be moving about in just a few minutes."

"We would always suggest that there might be another place," she continued. "We are thankful that this only caused some minimal disruption to parking and that everyone is safe and sound. We're just glad all of the kids and the staff are safe."

A ground ambulance then took Maraleyna to Maricopa County Hospital... after a little bit of assistance from Mesa police. No injuries were reported.

FMI: www.azcorrections.gov/newindex.asp