CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Chris Atha was injured in a struggle Tuesday at the Kanawha County Judicial Annex.
Atha was working in Magistrate Court, when a man who was awaiting a mental hygiene hearing, became combative. The man reached for Atha’s gun, but the safety holster prevented him from drawing it.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mike Rutherford explained why the man couldn’t draw the gun.
“The holsters that we have are triple retention holsters,” Rutherford said. “All three of the safety mechanisms were functioning and in the secure position.”
Officers tazed the man in an attempt to subdue him, but it did not stop him.
“The man was still attempting to get the gun,” Rutherford said. “And the weapon went off inside the holster.”
The bullet was fired into a bench, but debris from the holster scraped Atha’s leg.
The man was finally subdued and taken to CAMC General to remove the prongs from the tazer.
“As soon as he is released from Charleston General,” Rutherford said. “He will be transported to a mental health facility and we will look into possible criminal charges.”
Atha’s injuries weren’t serious.
“The deputy had just minor injuries, just enough we are going to have him looked at,” Rutherford said. “We don’t believe he will need any stitches or anything like that.”