Sheriff’s deputies took a man to the ground Monday morning in a Douglas County courtroom after the man pulled a pocket knife and threatened to harm himself with it, witnesses said.

A deputy suffered minor injury during the incident, but no one was seriously hurt, said Maj. Ken McGovern, a sheriff’s spokesman.

The man who pulled the knife, identified as a 33-year-old Lawrence resident, had just had his probation revoked and had been ordered by District Judge Robert Fairchild to spend a year in jail. He had previously been convicted of driving under the influence and theft.

There is no permanent metal detector or X-ray machine posted at the public entrance to the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St., but Sheriff Rick Trapp wants one.

Skeptics include County Commissioner Jere McElhaney, who said he thought the machines would be too much of an intrusion into people’s lives.

“This is one case in probably 10,000,” McElhaney said, referring to Monday’s incident. “We just live in a take-chance world. … I’ve carried pocket knives with me since I was 11 years old.”

One possible way to pay for X-ray equipment would be through a $326,000 federal homeland security grant the county received last year. McElhaney and his fellow Douglas County commissioners Monday approved using up to $240,000 of the grant to buy a new mobile-command center for use in emergencies.

Commissioners will decide by the end of June how to spend the rest of the money. The remaining top priority listed by local law enforcement agencies is X-ray equipment for the judicial center, which would cost an estimated $50,000.

“I just think it’s important to be able to ensure as much as we can that firearms and other dangerous weapons don’t enter into the building,” Trapp said. “It’s not something that’s new or revolutionary. All the federal courthouses have them and many of the county courthouses … particularly ones that are larger in size. I think it’s appropriate and still want to advocate for it.”

6News video: Incident highlights need for courtroom security