SAC CITY — Two Sac County deputies and a jailer were assaulted by a jail inmate last week during an escape attempt.

According to Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure, Artis Karazins, 36, of Lake View, assaulted a jailer around 3 p.m. June 4 when she attempted to pass paperwork through a jail cell’s food pass-through door. Karazins grabbed the jailer’s arm and pulled her into the cell door before later releasing his grip.

Later that same evening, the same jailer opened the pass-through door to hand Karazins a food tray, but instead he pushed his way through and was able to get his head and a shoulder through the cell’s pass-through door.

According to McClure, the jailer called for help while Karazins crawled completely through the door which measures 14 inches wide by 8 inches high, and chased the jailer down the jail’s steps looking for an exit to the booking area. Karazins then charged at two deputies who were in the building and coming to the aid of the jailer. A physical altercation took place and deputies were able to subdue Karazins and place him in handcuffs.

Additional law enforcement and Sac County Emergency Medical Service were dispatched to the jail.

Karazins was transported to Loring Hospital in Sac City for evaluation where he remained until the following morning. He was released to the Woodbury County Jail where he remains.

Karazins had been in the Sac County Jail since May 31 after being arrested by Lake View Police on two counts of criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident.

“Jail staff followed protocol, and because of this, Karazins was not able to escape the building,” said McClure. “Fortunately, law enforcement officials were in the building at the time, which most likely prevented further injury to our jailer in the stairwell and prevented Karazins from leaving the building.”

McClure also noted that the escape attempt is another reminder of the need to replace the 90-year-old jail which the state has noted has safety hazards to staff and inmates.