Baxter County inmate picks up additional charges for physical altercation with jailers and nurse

A Mountain Home man arrested for assaulting a nurse at a local clinic and threatening to kill his father and the entire Mountain Home Police Department later picked up additional charges in the Baxter County Detention Center for assaulting the jail nurse and fighting with jailers. Twenty-four-year-old Ethan Allen Thorgesen is facing eight charges for the two incidents, seven of them felonies.

According to the affidavit from the Mountain Home Police Department detailing the charges that landed Thorgesen in jail originally, on May 29, Officers were dispatched to Arisa Health because a physical altercation was reported. While en route, the deputy came across two men matching the description walking down the street. One of the males, later identified as Thorgesen began walking towards the patrol car with his fists clenched and struck the window of the vehicle.

The officer gave verbal commands instructing Thorgesen to stop, but he would not. While continuing to give verbal commands, the officer took control of Thorgesen’s right arm, another officer showed up to the scene for backup and they were able to restrain Thorgesen. While being restrained, Thorgesen told officers he was going to kill the entire police department, and also says he intended to chop his father’s head off. Officers contacted the victim, a nurse, who said that Thorgesen had punched her in the arm and spat on her.

According to the probable cause affidavit from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, on June 9, while incarcerated in the Baxter County Detention Center, Thorgesen came out of his cell for his morning medication. He walked out and squeezed the hands of the jail nurse, who was in possession of his medication. The nurse was able to keep the medication from Thorgesen, however she did have bruising on both of her hands.

That same afternoon, two jailers were walking Thorgesen to the rec yard. He was hostile, making vulgar remarks and threats toward the jailers. When they got to the door of the rec yard, Thorgesen then turned and threatened both jailers again, but this time he became physically aggressive and tried to get past the jailers. When he was unsuccessful, he wrapped his arms around one of the jailers. The altercation went to the ground, and Thorgesen punched the jailer two times in the side of the head. The other jailer then tased Thorgesen, and returned him to his cell without further incident.

Thorgesen was first arrested on May 29 on charges of second degree battery, two counts of terroristic threathening, and disorderly conduct. For the incident in the jail, Thorgesen is charged with two counts of second degree battery on a police officer, criminal attempted robbery and impairing operation of a vital public facility. His bond, originally $5,000, has now been increased to $30,000 with these new charges.

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