PINE CREEK TWP., Pa. (EYT) – An inmate is facing aggravated assault and related charges after striking a Jefferson County Jail corrections officer in the face.
According to court documents, Punxsutawney-based State Police on January 23, 2022, filed criminal charges against 39-year-old Michael J. Brown, currently an inmate of SCI-Smithfield, Huntingdon, Pa.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at the Jefferson County Jail on November 19.
According to a criminal complaint, around 1:54 p.m. on November 19, a Punxsutawney-based State Police Trooper responded to the Jefferson County Jail located at 578 Center Service Road, in Brookville, Pine Creek Township, Jefferson County, for a report that an inmate struck a corrections officer in the face earlier that day.
The complaint states that the trooper was provided with a video of the incident. According to the trooper, the video shows that the inmate stayed at the table after all the other inmates went to their cells. A discussion then occurred between the inmate and the correction officers, then a correction officer administered OC spray. At this time, the inmate turned his head and then got up and went towards the correction officer. With a closed fist, the inmate swung at the correction officer. Another correction officer was able to pin the inmate against a table and then to the ground. Two other correction officers entered to assist in controlling the inmate.
The trooper then interviewed a corrections officer to learn the details of the incident.
It was learned that around 7:25 a.m. on November 19, the corrections officer responded to the lieutenant’s call for lockdown, and for officers to respond to the “Kilo Unit” for an inmate who refused to lockdown, the complaint states.
On the way to the “Kilo Unit,” the corrections officer stopped to retrieve OC spray. The corrections officer, the lieutenant, and another correction officer entered the “Kilo Unit,” and the three of them approached the inmate – identified as Michael Brown – who was sitting at the dayroom table refusing lockdown as ordered by the lieutenant. At this time, the lieutenant ordered Brown to lockdown three more times, all of which he refused saying he “wanted to speak with the warden or deputy warden,” the complaint states.
According to the complaint, after the third order to lockdown, and Brown’s blatant refusal to do so, the lieutenant gave the corrections officer the go-ahead to administer a 1- to 2-second burst of OC to Brown. As the corrections officer did this, Brown jumped up from his seat and charged at the corrections officer, swinging a punch that landed on the left side of his jaw.
The lieutenant immediately jumped on Brown grabbing him from behind and dragging him to the ground. The corrections officer then followed Brown to the ground securing his legs to prevent him from kicking anyone else. At this time, another corrections officer arrived and helped secure Brown’s arms, and they proceed to roll him onto his stomach to get him cuffed, the complaint indicates.
The following charges were filed against Brown in Judge Bazylak’s office on January 23:
– Aggravated Assault – Attempts to Cause or Causes Bodily Injury to Designated Individuals, Felony 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 10 at 11:00 a.m. with Judge Bazylak presiding.