Inmate's Leg Confiscated After Fight

PEORIA, Ill. (APBnews.com) -- A 21-year-old inmate must do without his artificial leg, at least temporarily, after he allegedly tried to hit another prisoner with it during a fight.

Derrick Echols, whose leg was amputated above the knee, got into a scuffle with fellow inmate Rick Grant in a holding cell at the Peoria County Courthouse on Monday.

"Echols claims that Grant came to him with his penis exposed, and a pushing match ensued," Peoria County Sheriff Chuck Schofield told APBnews.com.

Echols' prosthetic leg came off during the struggle.

"And when it did, he was able to grab the leg and was trying to hit Mr. Grant with the leg," the sheriff said.

A weapon

Because the limb was used as a weapon, the sheriff's office is treating it like a homemade knife or any other device that a prisoner might use to harm someone.

"Obviously, if you're going to use an artificial leg for a weapon, then we're going to take your artificial leg," the sheriff said.

Echols was locked up at the Peoria County Jail to face charges on two counts of distributing a controlled substance. He lost his leg after suffering gunshot injuries.

'That's too bad'

If Echols needs to be moved from his cell, the sheriff said jail staffers will push him in a wheelchair. But they have no plans to return the leg.

"If it causes a discomfort for someone, then that's too bad," the sheriff said.

No new charges have been filed stemming from the courthouse assault, but the matter will be referred to the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office for review.

Before the assault, Grant had been awaiting prosecution on charges of public indecency and disorderly conduct.

A proper response?

Whether Echols' case is a violation of prisoner's rights remains to be seen.

Kara Grotsch, the public policy coordinator for The National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union said jail officials should ask whether confiscating a leg is the proper response to the alleged assault.

"Is this disabled prisoner a threat to other prisoners?" Grotsch asked.

If he were segregated from other inmates, it might be possible for him to keep his leg, she said.

Grant and Echols have been placed in separate areas of the jail where they will not come in contact with each other, the sheriff said.

By By Joe Beaird, an APBnews.com staff writer.