Arizona Department of Corrections, Arizona
End of Watch: Sunday, September 7, 1975
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: September 5, 1975
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Charges dismissed
Correctional Officer Paul Rast was fatally injured when he was strangled and beaten by two juvenile inmates at the Adobe Mountain Juvenile Facility.
Officer Rast was attacked after he had gone to the inmates' cottage to see why they had not reported for a work detail. He died in a Phoenix hospital two days later.
The inmates, ages 15 and 17, were charged with voluntary manslaughter. On February 4th, 1976, the charges were dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Both inmates had very lengthy records that included robbery, auto theft, burglary, assault, and shoplifting. The 15-year-old had also fatally stabbed another youth.
Officer Raft had served with the Arizona Department of Corrections for two years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.