Inmate Attacks Two Attorneys During Visitation
Release Number: 09-276
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Detention and Corrections Bureau
Roderick Clark (Inmate)
DOB: 07/10/1970
Address: Pinellas County Jail
Added Charges: Two-counts assault/battery in detention facility upon visitor
Bjorn Bruvand (Attorney)
DOB: 12/30/1963
Address: 10556 Sovereign Drive, Largo
Mary Arena (Attorney)
DOB: 04/02/1971
Address: 1137 Blufield Avenue, Brandon
What: An inmate at the Pinellas County Jail attacked two attorneys during visitation.
Where: The incident occurred in an attorney visitation room at the Pinellas County Jail located 14400 49th Streen North in Clearwater.
When: The incident occurred at about 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2009.
How/Why: An inmate at the Pinellas County Jail attacked two attorneys during visitation.
According to detention deputies, two attorneys, Bjorn Bruvand and Mary Arena responded to the jail in order to conduct an interview with their client inmate, Roderick Clark.
The two attorneys were sitting in the attorney visitation room when the inmate entered and stated that he wanted to fire them. The attorneys replied that they should not be fired as they were scheduled to begin trial on Monday, November 02, 2009.
At that point, inmate Clark became irate and spat unto Attorney Bruvand. As the attorney ducked from the spit, Clark began striking him about the head and body. Attorney Mary Arena began to yell at the inmate to stop, at which time; Clark turned and also struck her.
A trustee walked passed the attorney visitation room and observed Clark striking the attorneys. He called for help. Detention deputies immediately responded and secured inmate Clark.
Bruvand and Arena were both transported to Largo Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The attorney visitation room is equipped with a panic button for emergencies, but was not utilized during this incident.
The investigation continues.
To view the suspect’s booking record and photograph click the following link or copy and paste the link into a browser address bar: http://www.pcsoweb.com/InmateBooking/SubjectResults.aspx?id=1192371
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