SOMERSET — A fight during breakfast hours on June 7 at the county Jail resulted in charges of assault and resisting arrest, both second-degree misdemeanors, against inmate Wayne Sherlock, who was in jail in lieu of bond in another case.
A Somerset Borough Police investigation determined Sherlock, 28, of Somerset, was the aggressor in the incident with another inmate in the Somerset County Jail. Both inmates were injured. Sherlock received injuries when he tried to continue the fight and the other inmate, Justin Klink. Klink suffered "abrasions and swelling to the head and face," from Sherlock's strikes and punches. Klink's injuries were reported in a police criminal complaint. Sherlock's injuries were not part of that report.
What:Somerset County Jail: Ongoing police investigation of staff/inmate assaults
The investigation of the incident included video camera footage.
"Original Facebook rumors circulated that the jail guards beat up Sherlock needlessly," wrote county detective Jim Gregg, of the Somerset County Bureau of Investigation, in an email in response to questions from the Daily American. However, the "videotape confirms that this is simply not true."
Gregg said "Sherlock in an unprovoked fashion gets up during the breakfast meal begins to yell at another inmate and then subsequently assaults him. "Sherlock is then "lawfully restrained by corrections officers."
The videotape shows Sherlock now detained, lunging again at Klink. While doing so he dragged "himself and three correctional officers to the ground," Gregg said.
The results of investigation
Klink was trying to get away from Sherlock as corrections officers attempted to break the fight up, according to Somerset officer Kevin Huzsek, who investigated the incident.
"Sherlock continued to fight as lawful orders were given to him by the correction officers to stop resisting. Sherlock attempting to get another hit on the victim before he was handcuffed," Huzsek wrote.
The other case
In the case in which Sherlock was detained in the county jail when the incident with the other inmate occurred, he is charged with possession with intent to deliver, a felony, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors.
According to Trooper Joshua Wiskeman in a probable-cause affidavit, based on an obtained valid search warrant of Sherlock's apartment in Somerset, on March 11 state police found bulk methamphetamine in several jars within the kitchen and bedroom, a suspected brown controlled substance and packaging materials and several digital scales.
A monetary bail of $25,000 was set at his arraignment on the charges before District Judge Susan Mankamyer of Boswell. He was unable to post bail and was placed in the county jail. Sherlock then waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case is now in Somerset County Court.
Sherlock has requested a modification of his bail. The date for the hearing in the trial court on his request has yet to be set.
Where is Sherlock?
Since the incident occurred, the correction officers involved have continued working in the facility. Currently, Sherlock is incarcerated in the county jail, according to Gregg. He has been on work release since June 11 and is wearing an electronic monitor, according to a court order.
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