INCARCERATED MAN CHARGED WITH 8 FELONIES AND 3 MISDEMEANORS FOR INCIDENTS IN THE COUNTY JAIL
Darren Burton, 30, who was arrested on November 23, 2025, on the multiple felony charges in the Izard County Circuit Court in relation to an on-line scam has now been charged with 3 counts of Assault 1st degree, a class “A” misdemeanor; 2 counts of Impairing the operation of a vital public facility, a class “C” felony; 2 counts of Criminal mischief 1st degree, a class “D” felony; Criminal attempt at 2nd degree escape, a class “C” felony; Theft of property, a class “D” felony; 2nd degree escape, a class “B” felony; and Battery 2nd degree, a class “D” felony.
On February 6, 2026, at approximately 9:15 a.m., maintenance personnel were in “A” pod in a pipe chase to check for plumbing clogs. During this time, Darren Burton was in the cell next to the pipe chase. Burton begins throwing papers out of the food pass access of the cell door. Burton then starts squirting a liquid out of the food pass door, hitting one of the maintenance personnel. When three jail staff go into the pod, Burton throws food and squirted liquid on them. The floor became slick and hazardous to walk on due to the liquids and debris on the floor.
Staff went into Burton’s cell, placed him into handcuffs, and moved him to an isolation cell. Burton was resisting and would not comply. Burton had covered his face with ink, from a pen, and had ink all over his hands. After the handcuffs were removed from Burton and the door closed, Burton began yelling and beating on the fixtures in the cell. Burton busted the light fixture in the cell and tore parts and pieces off it. He used the pieces to hit the sink and door. Burton also broke the fire sprinkler head off, causing the cell to flood. Burton also was able to break the window out of the cell door. When the window was broken, Burton started throwing broken pieces of the items he broke out, hitting the booking computer monitor and other items in booking. The damage to the fixtures in the cell and the items in booking area are valued at more than $1000.
During this time, Burton cut himself and was bleeding. Staff was talking with Burton trying to get him to calm down, and Burton stated his finger was broken. The jail medical provider arrived and spoke with Burton and calmed him down. Burton was removed from the cell and provided a shower and moved into another cell. For several hours after Burton was placed into this cell, he kicked and pushed on the door.
On February 7, 2026, at approximately 7:35 a.m., a jailer was giving Burton his medications through the food pass door. During this time, Burton grabbed the Guardian (the device used to gain the signature of an inmate for medications) and retreated away from the cell door. Deputies arrived, and the cell door was opened to retrieve the Guardian. Burton ran out of the cell and started throwing and breaking items in the booking area before he could be subdued. The Guardian, that Burton took, was broken beyond repair. When Burton ran from the cell, he knocked down a jailer trying to stop him causing physical injuries that required medical attention at the emergency room. The damage is valued at more than $1000. The Guardian is valued at more than $1000. At approximately 11:50 a.m., Burton broke the fire sprinkler head in the cell he was in that caused the cell to flood.