Williamson County Jail inmate facing new charges after scuffle with correctional officer

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – A Williamson County Jail inmate faces new charges after sheriff’s deputies say he tried to strike a correctional officer with a table.

On February 27, at 8:50 p.m., Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies were report writing in the sheriff’s office squad room when they were told by a correctional officer that a recent arrestee had been moved to an interview room down the hall.

John D. Corliss was placed in an interview room while two correctional officers supervised him.

He in the custody of the Williamson County Jail after being transported earlier in the day when he was arrested by the Herrin Police Department.

Corliss was in custody related to the stabbing of a female at Huck’s Gas station at 3228 S. Park Avenue in Herrin.

A short time later, deputies Corliss became uncooperative with correctional officers and was told to stand up in preparation for his return to the jail.

That’s when deputies say Corliss grabbed the table with both hands and tried to strike a correctional officer with it by flipping it into the air.

Deputies in the nearby squad room heard a crash, yelling and what appeared to be a physical struggle. They responded to help and saw that correctional officers had Corliss in the prone position on the ground and were applying pressure to his upper body, to secure him, as he tried to break free.

They Corliss actively resiste by trying to roll his body and drawing his right hand underneath his body.

Deputies entered the interview room and assisted the correctional officers while they say Corliss continued to actively resist.

Corliss was restrained, forced into handcuffs and taken back to the Williamson County Jail.

Corliss was cited with two addition charges of aggravated assault to a correctional officer and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

“Any attempt to threaten, harm, or resist our Correctional Officers or Deputies is taken very seriously,” said Sheriff Jeff Diederich.

“Charges related to the stabbing are expected as my office and investigators prepare to present this case to the Grand Jury,” said Williamson County State’s Attorney Ted Hampson.

Corliss remained in the custody of the Williamson County Jail.

Deputies say he was already in custody on charges of escape/failure to report to a penal institution, possession of a controlled substance, resisting a peace officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Williamson County sheriff’s deputies began a search for Corliss on January 6 at 6:43 p.m.

He was in the custody of the Williamson County Jail but furloughed during scheduled hours each day as part of the work release program.

Corliss was serving a sentence for non-violent offenses. He had been repeatedly late in returning to the jail as required, according to Williamson County sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies began searching for him after Corliss was several hours late,

Sheriff Jeff Diederich contacted Corliss by telephone and sheriff’s deputies say Croliss told him he wasn’t going to surrender and go back to jail.

Approximately six hours after Corliss was overdue, Sheriff Diederich found him in the parking lot of 209 West Commercial Drive in Carterville.

Sheriff Diederich approached the vehicle, identified Corliss as the driver, and ordered him to get out of the vehicle.

Despite multiple orders, sheriff’s deputies say Corliss refused to get out of the vehicle and began actively resisting arrest by grasping the vehicle’s steering wheel and bracing himself inside the vehicle to prevent being removed.

Sheriff Diederich removed Corliss from the vehicle and arrested him.

Deputies found a half empty bottle of whiskey, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and a mirror and pill containers which both contained methamphetamine residue, according to sheriff’s deputies.

His Williamson County work release privileges were administratively suspended by Sheriff Diederich pending a directive from the court.

“The work release program serves a vital role in returning non-violent offenders back to society,” said Sheriff Diederich. “Those who are fortunate enough to participate in the work release program are closely supervised and are expected to abide by the programs rules and guidelines. Those who do not adhere to the rules will be held accountable.”