Inmate Accused In Violent Attack On Deputy At Redwood City Jail

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A homeless man is accused of recently attacking a San Mateo County sheriff's deputy while at the Redwood City jail — allegedly spitting on him and punching him in a fit of rage. Now the man, 37-year-old Joshua Kendall, is facing battery charges to which he pleaded not guilty on Friday, prosecutors say.

Kendall was in a so-called "safety cell" at the Maguire Correctional Facility on Jan. 17 when the incident occurred, according to prosecutors.

"At 9:24 a.m. a sheriff's deputy opened [Kendall's] cell to give him water," a D.A.'s report states. "The defendant was angry and spat on the deputy's face."

The deputy then tried to restrain Kendall but Kendall allegedly grabbed the deputy's uniform and punched the deputy three times in the face, officials allege.

"The struggle continued to the ground and lasted until correctional officers responded," the D.A.'s office said.

Prosecutors allege the deputy suffered bruises and that everything was captured by jail video cameras.

Kendall is being held on $25,000 bail. He is set to be in court again March 6.

Kendall's attorney Ross Green could not immediately be reached for comment.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Inked Pixels, Shutterstock.com