Idaho correctional officer shot by police during prison escape from hospital seeks damages

Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman

(Idaho Statesman) — An Idaho Department of Correction worker who was changeable and injured by different serviceman during nan ambush astatine Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center has revenge a tort declare against nan officer’s agency.

IDOC Corporal Christopher Wilske revenge a $500,000 declare against nan Boise Police Department for nan beingness damages he incurred during nan shooting, according to a declare for harm obtained by nan Idaho Statesman done a nationalist grounds request.

Wilske was 1 of 3 correctional officers injured during a situation flight astatine nan Boise hospital. Skylar Meade, an Idaho man serving a minimum 10-year situation sentence, fled from custody aft Nicholas Umphenour, his co-conspirator, planned an ambush connected nan officers at nan Saint Alphonsus hospital. Meade and Umphenour were recovered successful nan Twin Falls area, arrested and charged successful March pinch respective felonies.

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The different 2 officers, Daniel Lopez and Elijah Jackson, were shot and injured by Umphenour. All 3 officers survived, though IDOC hasn’t disclosed whether they are each backmost astatine work.

Wilske was changeable minutes aft nan Boise Police Department responded to what they believed was an progressive shooter astatine Saint Alphonsus, according to police. When nan officers arrived astatine nan scene, they saw an individual holding a weapon adjacent nan entryway, prompting Boise Police Officer Wayne Anderson to sprout and injure him. The personification holding nan weapon was later identified arsenic Wilske.

The gunfire from either a slug aliases shrapnel damaged Wilske’s eye, Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Heather Reilly said during Meade’s sentencing. Reilly contributed nan wounded to Meade and Umphenhour causing “chaos” during nan attack.

Wilske suffered problems pinch his imagination and dealt pinch migraines and fractures to his facial bones, according to nan complaint. IDOC Director Josh Tewalt antecedently said it was “heartbreaking” to spot really overmuch Anderson blamed himself.

“I want to opportunity it again, and I’ll opportunity it arsenic galore times arsenic I person to: There’s not a personification who was progressive successful nan events that greeting — including our unit personnel who yet was wounded — who has thing but appreciation for BPD showing up erstwhile and really they did,” Tewalt said.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office is starring nan Critical Incident Task Force investigation into Anderson’s shooting. The Sheriff’s Office didn’t instantly respond to an email seeking an update connected nan investigation Friday.

Meade was sentenced to astatine slightest 35 years successful situation for his actions successful nan ambush and Umphenhour — who pleaded blameworthy to half a twelve charges, including 3 counts of battle upon definite unit for shooting astatine nan officers — is expected to beryllium sentenced adjacent month.