A man was booked into jail for biting an ER staff member but was taken back to the hospital after becoming unresponsive and was flown to Tucson.
By Jon Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
SAFFORD – Mark Tienter was booked into the Graham County Jail for aggravated assault on a healthcare worker after biting her on her arm but was later flown to a Tucson hospital after he became unresponsive at the jail.
According to a Safford Police report, Tienter was brought to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC) by ambulance for an unreported condition. While at the Emergency Room, Tienter allegedly bit the arm of an ER staff tech who was trying to get him situated.
When the officer arrived, Tienter was being held down by numerous staff members, and the victim was cleaning her arm, which was red and swollen.
Tienter was then medically discharged from the hospital and the officer put him under arrest. While taking him back to his patrol vehicle, Tienter made his body go limp and hospital security staff assisted in escorting the suspect to the officer’s patrol vehicle.
Then, while en route to the jail, Tienter was mumbling intelligible words and made minor lacerations to his arms from the handcuffs.
After being booked into the jail, Tienter was placed into a restraint chair but then later became unresponsive. The jail then transported Tienter back to MGRMC, where he was then flown out to a Tucson hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
