Cook County Jail Inmate Disrupts Court Hearing, Punches Deputy: Sheriff

(STMW) -- A Cook County Jail inmate allegedly punched a sheriff's deputy in the face when he appeared in court for a brief hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse Friday morning.

Two female assistant state's attorneys also received minor injuries during the fracas in courtroom 307, according to Sophia Ansari, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Tom Dart.

The defendant, Anthony Bland, 27, also allegedly destroyed "courtroom property" during the frenzy.

Ansari didn't have details on what was damaged. But a table where prosecutors usually sit in the courtroom was missing Friday afternoon as were several chairs.

Ansari said Bland attacked around 10 a.m. after he was assigned a new court date in his pending cases.

He was quickly brought under control by other deputies in the courtroom, Ansari said.

Bland has a theft and two aggravated battery cases from earlier this year, court records show. One of those alleged attacks was against a police officer.

The male sheriff's deputy injured in Friday's incident was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries, Ansari said.

The sheriff's department will be pursuing charges in the matter, which is an ongoing investigation, Ansari said.

Judge Maura Slattery Boyle usually presides in courtroom 307, but according to court records, Judge Neera Walsh was on the bench Friday.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)