An inmate trying to take his own life was saved by a team of Rutherford County Adult Detention Center booking officers and the nursing staff Sunday, a spokeswoman said.

The inmate was in a booking cell when Booking Lt. Terry Nicodemus heard knocking at the door by a second inmate, said Public Information Officer Lisa Marchesoni. Lt. Nicodemus found the inmate with a phone cord wrapped around the neck. He yelled for the nurse in booking and called for a medical emergency.

Five other booking officers and several other nurses responded, removed the cord and treated the inmate until Emergency Medical Services paramedics arrived. Booking officers helped load him into the ambulance.

Another detention officer rode in the ambulance while a Patrol sergeant drove the ambulance. While driving to StoneCrest Medical Center, the inmate became combative with the paramedics. The detention officer, who recognized the inmate, talked to him and calmed him down.

The inmate was treated at StoneCrest overnight and released back to the Detention Center Monday night. He is waiting to undergo an evaluation at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute in Nashville.

Since then, the Command Staff and Detention Staff have asked the phone contractor to shorten the phone cords to prevent any further attempts.

A Tennessee Corrections Institute detention facility specialist was notified Monday.

The Sheriff's Office commended the team work between several officers in different divisions and the nurses and paramedics who contributed to save the inmate's life, Marchesoni said.