Phoenix Man Survives Cutting Open His Own Neck in Bid to Avoid Prison

A Phoenix man survived repeatedly stabbing and slicing open his own neck with a knife, as police were attempting to arrest him.

According to court documents obtained by New Times, the Phoenix Police Department's auto-theft unit was keeping watch on a stolen car in an area off of 19th Avenue when they saw 31-year-old Shelton Boone get in the driver's seat and take off.

After spotting a marked patrol car behind him last Friday, Boone got out of the car and ran, but when he was cornered by officers, police say, he pulled a knife and said he wasn't going back to prison.

Police released a K9 on Boone, and used a Taser on him, but Boone punched away the dog and wasn't affected by the Taser, according to court documents.

Officers tried to negotiate with Boone — whom police say repeatedly said he wouldn't go back to prison — but Boone put the knife to his own neck, repeatedly stabbing himself and slicing open the left side of his neck.

Police applied the Taser several more times to get him to stop, and they then pinned Boone to the ground. Boone was in the process of trying to slice open his throat when he lost consciousness, the documents state. 

The surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital was successful, and he was well enough to be interviewed by police the following day.
Boone admitted to stealing the car to sell for parts and was arrested yesterday on eight felony charges.

Boone's totaled about eight years in prison, in two trips, records show. His first stint, six years, was the result of drug charges, plus charges of transportation theft and endangerment. Less than two years after his release in 2011, he was back in prison to serve nearly two years for aggravated DUI.

He also had active misdemeanor warrants as of last week.

Got a tip? Send it to: Matthew Hendley.

Follow Matthew Hendley at @MatthewHendley.