A Sandoval County inmate is being accused of battery after a recent visit to the UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center. 

At about 2 p.m. April 24, 38-year-old Joseph Haycox — a son of longtime Rio Rancho Police Chief Dencil Haycox, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 83 — was being transported from the Sandoval County Detention Center to the medical center to be looked at for an undisclosed issue.

During the evaluation, Haycox reportedly became hostile and aggressive with medical staff.

Medical center employees along with a detention officer tried to restrain the suspect when Haycox attempted to headbutt the officer before spitting in their face. About 30 minutes later, the suspect kicked the officer on the left side of his head, according to a criminal complaint.  

The officer was not hurt and did not require medical attention. 

Nurses tried to sedate the suspect, but Haycox remained combative and noncompliant. He was eventually tied to a hospital bed where he “repeatedly sat up and jerked and kicked abruptly attempting to release his restraints,” the complaint states. 

Haycox was later issued a summons for alleged battery upon a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony. 

He made no plea at his May 18 initial appearance. 

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 8. 

A fourth-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of 1.5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. 

The complaint does not state what crime(s) Haycox previously committed.