WAXAHACHIE, Texas — A detention officer with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office was killed by an inmate in what the sheriff described as “pure evil.”
On Dec. 16, Detention Officer Isaiah Bias, 28, was working at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center when he was physically attacked by inmate Arron Semeion Thompson while being transferred into his cell, the sheriff’s office said during a news conference.
“Most of the time, law enforcement officers and detention officers deal with good folks having a bad day. Occasionally, we deal with bad folks,” Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman said. “I can honestly say that my staff, over the last day, has dealt with pure evil. May God bless Isaiah’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Fellow detention officers rushed to Bias’ aid and provided life-saving measures before EMS transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Norman stated that Thompson, who was being held on three counts of assaulting a public servant and evading arrest, is now isolated in his cell for 23 hours daily, receiving one hour for recreation. He is being charged with capital murder in connection to Bias’ death, Norman said.
“It was a heinous, horrific, purposeful murder that was senseless and not needed,” Norman said.
The sheriff said he could not provide additional details of the attack due to an ongoing investigation.
Bias had served with the sheriff’s office for six years. He started with the sheriff’s office as an explorer when he was 18 before he became eligible to be a full-time detention officer.
Norman said Bias was very family-oriented and was a person who was loved by everyone in the jail.
“He was one of the kind of guys that if you needed help, he’d come help ya. Outstanding, outstanding person,” Norman said.
