CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale man will be spending time in state prison for assaulting two state troopers in December.
Keatin Jarrid Gaines, 36, was sentenced to serve 11.5 months to three years for two felony counts of aggravated assault by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman during sentencing court Monday.
The charges stem from an incident on Dec. 11 at 2:01 a.m. in Graham Township after Gaines, who lived in a camper in the driveway of a family member, entered the home. She described him as naked and under the influence of drugs. He assaulted her and then assaulted the officers when they responded to the home.
Prior to sentencing, family members spoke for him saying this behavior was out of character for him as he was suffering from a mental health issue. They asked Ammerman for leniency.
His attorney, Joshua Maines, stated that this was a “very unfortunate incident” which was not how Gaines “conducts himself normally.” He noted that Gaines is a veteran who has had no issues while incarcerated. He argued for a county jail sentence.
Gaines himself addressed the court, apologizing and stating he wasn’t sure what happened.
Ammerman commented that there was some “odd behavior here” and was amazed how Gaines was tased twice with no effect. He also stated that the probation office had recommended a longer maximum sentence of seven years.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Gaines told the victim it was “time to meet the Lord” before he punched her in the head with a closed fist. He then went into the bedroom of a 12-year-old boy and punched him. The first victim ran outside to call 911 while Gaines gathered another adult family member, the boy and a 9-year-old girl into the bathroom.
Once there, “Gaines started drinking toilet water and wanted everyone else to do the same,” according to the criminal complaint.
After the troopers arrived, they saw Gaines, naked and praying loudly.
The first trooper was able to get Gaines’s attention by grabbing his arm and telling him to calm down. Instead, Gaines yelled back “No. You’re the cop. You’re the {expletive} cops.” as he pulled away from him.
The two officers attempted to gain control of him while Gaines was actively trying to punch them and yelling “this is a fight!”
Gaines pushed away and the second trooper was able to deploy his taser which impacted Gaines’s back but it had “little or no effect on him.” He reportedly lunged toward the first trooper and the second officer deployed his taser a second time, again with little impact.
They continued struggling with him and eventually took him to ground. When a trooper tried to place handcuffs on him, Gaines again resisted, and was able to get to his feet. He was able to punch and kick the officers. The second trooper at last was able to get handcuffs on Gaines.
Once he was restrained, Gaines told them “he was going to defecate since he was in custody. Gaines then defecated all over himself and the floor,” it says in the affidavit.
Emergency medical personnel assessed Gaines due to his level of impairment and he was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center after being injected with sedatives to calm him down.
The second trooper suffered two broken ribs and a bruised wrist and the first trooper had a possible broken bone in his right hand, according to the report.
