Man accused of kicking officer acquitted
WAYNESBURG – A Mt. Morris man charged with assaulting a police officer who was attempting to arrest him for driving under the influence of alcohol and other charges was found not guilty Tuesday by a Greene County jury.
The jury deliberated for about 40 minutes before acquitting Casey Daniel Sharratt, 20, of 466 Davistown Road, of aggravated assault, DUI, simple assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
After the verdict was returned, Judge Farley Toothman, who presided, also found Sharratt not guilty of summary offenses of criminal mischief and driving while his operating privileges are suspended or revoked.
In the criminal complaint, Southwest Regional Police patrolman John Lingo said he was called to 141 Locust Ave. at 11:50 p.m. Nov. 22 for a report of a man driving a pickup truck in the yard and in a neighboring yard.
He said he was told by the property owner, Mary Ann Herrington, Sharratt was the driver and he was still in the truck. Lingo said he approached Sharratt, who smelled of alcohol, and Sharratt refused to comply with his request to turn around so he could be handcuffed.
Lingo said Sharratt had to be taken to the ground and was finally handcuffed but continued to resist. He said he attempted to stun Sharratt with his Tazer, but the Tazer malfunctioned and Sharratt kicked him once in the groin and twice in the leg.
When Lingo threatened to use pepper spray on him, Sharratt finally complied and got into the police car.
Aaron Zachar, who lives at the house, told police Sharratt kicked in the door to enter the house. Herrington also said Sharratt was not allowed to be at the house because of an earlier incident involving Alexandria Herrington. Lingo said he could see ruts in the yard caused by a vehicle.