Man tries to stab deputy while in custody at Linn County jail

Raymond L. Pina tried to stab a deputy Wednesday night at the Linn County Jail, Sheriff Brian Gardner said.

The knife, hidden within Pina's belt, was missed by both the Cedar Rapids officers who'd arrested him for public intoxication and by jail staff who conducted an initial pat-down as Pina was booked into jail, according to Gardner.

Pina, 54, of 1000 10th St. SE, was arrested a few minutes after 11 p.m. in the 1300 block of Second Avenue SE. After the initial cursory search, Pina was taken to a room where prisoners exchange their clothing for jail-issued coveralls.

Standing behind a half-door that protected the lower half of his body, Deputy Austin Schmid instructed Pina to remove his shoes.

“That's when he took the belt off and came at the deputy with a knife,” Gardner said.

Two deputies standing nearby quickly subdued Pina, and Schmid wasn't hurt,

Charges of carrying a weapon and assault on a peace officer while displaying weapon were added to the original charge of public intoxication, and Pina remained in jail Thursday afternoon in lieu of $6,000 cash bail.