By AP/KWMU
Belleville, Ill. – A former teacher charged with trying to kill a teenager and leaving her for dead in a park attempted suicide on Tuesday while out on bond, his lawyer said.
Samson Shelton, 27, likely faces charges of aggravated battery after he became combative with an ambulance crew and St. Clair County sheriff's deputies, Lt. Steve Johnson said.
Around 9 a.m., an unidentified family member at Shelton's mother's home called 911 to report that a man there had overdosed and was unresponsive in his bedroom, Johnson said.
By the time emergency responders arrived, the man had regained consciousness and began punching and kicking deputies and the ambulance crew, causing minor injuries, Johnson said.
Deputies subdued Shelton with a stun gun. Johnson refused to say whether investigators found evidence at the scene.
Shelton was hospitalized under 24-hour guard.
"Our primary concern is Sam's mental and physical well-being," said Shelton's attorney, Justin Kuehn. "Any legal ramifications resulting from this morning's events will be dealt with at a later time."
A hospital spokeswoman said Shelton was a patient there but she refused to divulge his status.
Shelton has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the April 2006 attack on 18-year-old Ashley Reeves. Since being freed, he has been ordered confined to his mother's home. His case is scheduled for trial in July.
Reeves, who was near death when found, is slowly recovering