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Authorities Say Berkeley Murder Suspect Broke Deputy's Jaw

OAKLAND (CBS / AP) -- Authorities say the Oakland man accused of using a ceramic pot to beat and kill a 67-year-old Berkeley man outside his home earlier this year has attacked and broken the jaw of a deputy.

An Alameda County sheriff's spokesman says the deputy was trying to put Daniel Jordan DeWitt in waist and leg chains for transport from a county psychiatric facility to Napa State Hospital Wednesday morning when DeWitt punched him in the chin.

Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson told the Oakland Tribune that the deputy will undergo surgery and have his jaw wired shut for four to six weeks.

The 23-year-old DeWitt is charged with murder in the beating death of Peter Cukor on Feb. 18.

After DeWitt was charged, a judge determined that he was not mentally fit to stand trial and ordered that he be committed to the Napa facility.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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