SAFFORD – A man initially jailed on drug possession charges has been sentenced to 8.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to violently assaulting and kidnapping a nurse at the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on September 14, 2024.
Surveillance footage obtained by the Gila Herald shows 36-year-old inmate Christopher Falquez of Globe attacking the nurse after she entered his cell to check his oxygen levels. Falquez claimed he couldn’t breathe but then put the nurse in a chokehold and launched a brutal assault.
Detention Officer Armando Chacon attempted to intervene with pepper spray, but Falquez continued to restrain the nurse. Chacon then struck Falquez repeatedly while Officer Ries joined in to help free the nurse. Despite their efforts, Falquez dragged the nurse to the ground, continued choking her, and allegedly threatened to kill her if the officers didn’t back off.
As the struggle escalated, Officer Chacon called for backup and kept fighting to protect the nurse. Officer Ries worked to remove Falquez’s grip and reportedly tried to restrict Falquez’s breathing to force him to release her.
Additional officers arrived about a minute later. Sgt. Lovingood used a TASER five times in direct contact mode, which finally caused Falquez to surrender.
The nurse was immediately escorted out and treated for her injuries.
Falquez later told a sheriff’s deputy that he “was trying to get the nurse out of the way.” He entered a plea agreement, receiving three years of probation for his original cocaine possession charge—with credit for 120 days served. However, for the jail attack, he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison, along with three years of probation for aggravated assault. Both probation terms will run concurrently.
In June, Officer Armando Chacon received the Distinguished Valor Award from the National Institute for Jail Operations for his brave actions in saving the nurse.
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