BEDFORD — An inmate already housed at the Lawrence County Security Center is now facing two additional felony charges after allegedly battering a corrections officer during an altercation over unauthorized items.
Demetrious Cassell Coleman, 41, was charged with battery with injury on a public safety official and resisting law enforcement by force following an incident on Monday, October 27.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Captain Andrew Phillips, the jail’s security center contacted central dispatch to report the battery.
Captain Phillips spoke with the assistant jail commander and the correctional officer who was injured. The incident began while dealing with inmate Coleman regarding unauthorized e-cigarettes.
The affidavit details that officers first went to Coleman’s cell to retrieve an e-cigarette. Coleman attempted to block access and warned the officers, “It was going to be a fight” if they touched him. The officers managed to retrieve the e-cigarette, but as they were leaving, Coleman reportedly produced two more that he was not allowed to possess, dropping one.
Officers returned to the cell to retrieve the remaining e-cigarettes.
When officers returned, Coleman blocked their entry. An officer then noticed that Coleman had three uniforms—an excessive and unauthorized number—and instructed a correction officer to retrieve one of them.
At this point, Coleman began “flexing” and getting “in his face.” To create distance, one of the correction officers pushed Coleman back. According to the affidavit, on the fourth instance of confrontation, Coleman allegedly punched one of the correction officers in the face with a closed fist.
Following the initial punch, officers attempted to handcuff Coleman and take him to the ground. Before they could secure him, Coleman allegedly punched the injured officer two more times in the face with a closed fist.
Coleman reportedly continued to struggle, refusing to follow orders and actively resisting officers. Officers were eventually forced to use a taser on the inmate’s leg, after which he complied and was restrained.
Captain Phillips noted that because the battery occurred inside the cell, there is no video footage of the actual battery.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the Probable Cause Affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
