Utah News Dispatch
Man awaiting trial for killing police officer attacked and injured jail deputies, investigators say
Michael Aaron Jayne appears in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, on Nov. 13, 2024. (Pool photo by FOX 13)
The man charged with murdering a Santaquin police officer last year is now being investigated for attacking deputies at the Utah County Jail, injuring several officers, including one who now has limited vision and requires an eye patch.
According to an affidavit, 43-year-old Michael Aaron Jayne was being investigated Wednesday for having contraband in his cell, where he is awaiting trial for the murder of Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hoosier. If convicted, Jayne could face the death penalty.
Prosecutors intend to pursue death penalty for man accused of murdering Utah police officer
Deputies escorted Jayne to an interview room, noting that he was originally “polite and respectful,” the affidavit reads. But as they questioned him about the contraband, Jayne’s demeanor quickly changed.
He “became aggressive and threatening,” police say, jumping out of his chair, pushing the table towards the deputies and taking a fighting stance. As the officers attempted to place him in handcuffs, Jayne “threw a punch towards one of the deputies.”
The deputy deflected the punch, according to the affidavit, and pinned Jayne up against the wall, where he made “verbal threats to kill” the deputy.
That’s when Jayne “reached his hand up, knocking the prescription eyeglasses off the deputy’s face. Jayne began clawing at the deputy’s face until he got to his eyes. The deputy indicated that Jayne showed no intent to strike him with his fist, instead he was targeting the deputy’s eyes, attempting to gouge his eyes with his fingers. The deputy indicated that Jayne was able to dig his finger deep into his right eye socket, attempting to dig his eyeball out of his head,” according to court documents.
After a short struggle, the deputies were able to pin Jayne to the ground. He then grabbed the eyeglasses and tried to stab a deputy in the ribs with the metal. Multiple deputies were soon able to restrain Jayne.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Two deputies were later treated at a hospital and released. The first deputy had skin ripped out from inside of his lower eyelid, a scratch that barely missed his cornea, and swelling and scratches around both eyes. He currently has limited vision in his right eye, and must wear an eye patch, according to the affidavit.
Another deputy suffered a bone chip in his right elbow and several abrasions, while a third sprained several fingers.
In May, Jayne was charged in the 4th District Court with nine felonies, including aggravated murder which is a capital crime. Prosecutors say Jayne hit and killed Hoosier, the Santaquin police sergeant, with his semitrailer on Interstate 15, after being stopped for blowing through a stop sign.
Last fall, Utah County prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty in Jayne’s case, which would require a unanimous decision from a jury — if the jury is not unanimous, a sentence of 25 years to life would be imposed. A hearing is set for Nov. 25.
Now, following Wednesday’s incident, Jayne could face additional charges, including aggravated assault by a prisoner, a second-degree felony, assault by a prisoner, a third-degree felony, and criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, according to the affidavit.
