Man will face charges of assault on an officer

The man said alcohol was to blame.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- A Girard man will be back in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday to face felony charges stemming from an attack on a township police officer.
Brian Williams, 23, of Belgrade Drive, Girard, was arraigned before Judge Michael Bernard on Thursday on a charge of assault on a police officer. Williams pleaded innocent and was released on $3,000 bond.
As a condition of his release, Williams must immediately go to Community Solutions Association in Warren for alcohol treatment.
If convicted, Williams could be sentenced to 18 months in jail and fined $5,000.
According to police reports, officers were called to the 900 block of Trumbull Avenue at 12:40 a.m. Thursday. Police said they found an intoxicated Williams surrounded by several friends who were trying to get him to go home.
Officer Chad McCreary attempted to talk to Williams, but he attacked the officer -- trying to grab him around the throat with both hands. McCreary, the reports said, was also struck in the mouth.
McCreary hit Williams in the leg with a flashlight, trying to make him surrender. Reports say the officer eventually used a Taser on Williams to end the fight.
Police said they found a folding knife on Williams after he had been handcuffed.
Williams told Judge Bernard that he could not remember any of the events that led to his arrest.
"I just feel ashamed of myself for my actions," he said.
Williams asked the judge if he could get into a treatment program for alcohol dependency. He said the situation never would have happened had he not been intoxicated.
Judge Bernard told Williams that not seeking the alcohol treatment would be a violation of his bond.
jgoodwin@vindy.com