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Officials: Inmate attacks his attorneys at Pinellas County Jail

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TBO.com

Published: November 2, 2009

Two days before his trial on rape charges, a Pinellas County Jail inmate attacked his two attorneys when they went to see him Saturday, sheriff's officials said.

In addition to the sexual battery charges, Roderick Clark, 39, also faces two charges of assault/battery on a visitor in a detention facility.

The attorneys – Bjorn Bruvand, 45, of Largo, and Mary Arena, 38, of Brandon – were taken to Largo Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The assault occurred at 11:15 a.m. at the attorney visitation room at the Pinellas County Jail, where Bruvand and Arena were to talk to their client, sheriff's officials said. Clark, who has had trouble with attorneys who previously represented him, walked in and said he wanted to fire the pair.

Bruvand and Arena told Clark he shouldn't fire them as his trial was scheduled to begin today, sheriff's officials said. Clark got angry and spat at Bruvand, but Bruvand ducked. Then Clark started striking Bruvand.

When Arena began yelling at Clark to stop, he turned to her and struck her, sheriff's officials said. Detention deputies were alerted and quickly restrained Clark.

There is a panic button in the attorney visitation room, but it was not pushed during the assault, sheriff's officials said.

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