A Racine County Sheriff’s deputy shot an arson suspect she had been guarding at a Racine hospital early Monday. The department said the shooting happened after the man attacked the deputy.
A statement from the Racine County Sheriff’s Office said 36-year-old Racine resident Marcus Cole suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the shooting.
The incident occurred at Racine’s Ascension All Saints Hospital around 1 a.m. Monday. Police said Cole “violently attacked” the deputy guarding him. Cole was at the hospital for a medical clearance before being taken to jail, according to the statement.
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Police have not released the name of the deputy involved in the shooting, but said she’s now on paid administrative leave.
The statement said Cole was arrested Saturday after he admitted to setting his bedroom on fire.
“He admitted to intentionally setting his bedroom on fire by lighting a Kleenex, placing the burning Kleenex inside a paper bag, and throwing the fire on his mattress,” the statement said.
Cole now faces four counts of recklessly endangering safety because four upstairs residents, including a 2-year-old child, were home when the fire was set.
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