Smithton man accused of assaulting Westmoreland prison guard

An 18-year-old Smithton man was charged Thursday for allegedly assaulting a Westmoreland County Prison guard as he was being strip-searched following his arrest Oct. 7.

Timothy D. Ingram was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and simple assault filed by county detectives. He was remanded to the county prison after failing to post $50,000 bail set by Hempfield District Judge Mark Mansour.

Detective James Williams reported in an affidavit of probable cause that Ingram was arrested last fall for child endangerment, simple assault and harassment by state police in Belle Vernon after allegedly striking a 4-year-old with a belt.

Williams reported in court documents that guards said Ingram became agitated and threw his clothes into the face of a prison guard when he was being processed into the Hempfield lockup.

When the guard attempted to secure the inmate, “Ingram punched the guard in the face,” Williams wrote.

The guard required medical attention for a cut lip and an injured right hand, according to police reports.

Ingram is awaiting trial in the Oct. 7 case. Mansour scheduled a March 3 preliminary hearing on the case involving the prison guard.