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Man attempts suicide while being questioned by Boise Police

04:34 PM MDT on Friday, June 9, 2006

KTVB

BOISE -- Boise Police are investigating an apparent suicide attempt that occurred as detectives were questioning a lewd conduct suspect.

Ada County Jail

Boise Police say Mitchell Ponting attempted to kill himself Thursday with a pair of scissors during a polygraph test at the police station.

Police say 41-year-old Mitchell Ponting II of Boise had consented to take a polygraph in connection with a case involving a minor child Thursday afternoon at police offices on Clinton Street.

Mitchell was in police custody after being taken from the Ada County Jail where he had been serving time since April 27th for failing to register as a sex offender, as well as drug and weapons charges.

While the polygraph was in progress, detectives took a short break, got Ponting a soda and left briefly, leaving him alone in the small room. Ponting then grabbed a pair of scissors and began stabbing himself in the stomach.

Officers were observing Ponting through closed circuit TV and ran into the room. He then laid the scissors down, was handcuffed and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. His injuries are not life threatening.

Police say this is the first time in 10 years of conducting criminal polygraphs that any suspect has ever attempted suicide.

Boise Police are reviewing policies and procedures to try and prevent such incidents in the future. Immediate steps will be taken to keep scissors, staplers and other ordinary office supplies that could be used as a weapon out of the reach of suspects.

Ponting remains hospitalized for observation and is still in police custody.

When he is released from the hospital he will be returned to the Ada County Jail.