A Pueblo man arrested in May on suspicion of robbing a park ranger and stabbing a Pueblo police officer at Ray Aguilera Park allegedly attacked two officers at the Pueblo County Jail on August 10.
James Gilbert, 42, was in the Pueblo County Detention Center when he allegedly attacked the two deputies working the night shift on the maximum security floor of the jail, according to a news release from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
One officer was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries from the alleged attack, while another suffered minor injuries to his face, the release said. The officer who suffered the serious injuries has since been released from hospital and is “doing well,” a PCSO spokesperson told the chief.
It is unclear whether further charges will be brought against Gilbert for the alleged assault. The incident remains under investigation.
Gilbert was arrested and taken to jail on May 8 after Pueblo police responded to Ray Aguilera Park on a report that a man with a large stick was “running toward people, harassing them while yelling and screaming,” according to a Pueblo police news release.
When a Pueblo police officer arrived at the scene, he learned that the suspect had attempted to rob a park ranger who had observed his behavior and yelled at him to stop.
The suspect, later identified as Gilbert, “approached the ranger with a knife in his hand and demanded money,” the press release states. The park ranger then sprayed Gilbert with pepper spray, after which Gilbert walked away.
The Pueblo PD officer who responded to the call approached Gilbert and ordered him to stop, at which point Gilbert reportedly turned around about 20 feet from the officer and “showed her two knives (one in each hand) while staring at her,” the release states.
“The officer decided not to engage the man due to the large number of people in the area,” Pueblo police officials said in the news release.
Gilbert then left the park, where several other officers took him into custody.
He was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on suspicion of attempted criminal assault, attempted aggravated robbery (3rd class felony), and actual or simulated threat (5th class felony).
More crime news in Pueblo: Former Pueblo West middle school teacher sentenced to 90 days in prison for sexually abusing student
Chieftain editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ZachHillstrom. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
