US prison inmate takes librarian hostage in ‘desire to escape’

Harrowing CCTV footage has been released of an intense hostage drama in an Arizona jail.

The footage shows an inmate taking a jail librarian hostage with a weapon on December 26, Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) said.

The maximum-security inmate, identified as Timothy Monk, is seen walking into the prison library about 8.15am.

He then appears to pull a weapon from his sock and grabs a library employee, dragging him down and holding the weapon close to his neck.

The employee pepper-sprays Monk, which the ADC said was "crucial to his eventual rescue".

Prison Tactical Support Unit personnel swiftly surrounded the library and talked with Monk.

The ADC later said the criminal's motive was an "apparent desire to leave the complex".

Just after 10.30am, officers noticed Monk was increasingly preoccupied with the effects of the pepper spray, and stormed the library, rescuing the uninjured librarian and taking Monk back into custody.

"Our team acted with great professionalism to bring about the best possible outcome, ensuring that our employee was unharmed," ADC director Charles Ryan said.

Monk will face new charges over the incident. He is currently serving 97 years in prison.

He was initially jailed in 1988 for armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping.

In 2006, he was convicted for offences committed while behind bars, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, promoting prison contraband and sexual assault.