Police assault yields prison term.

Brett Peoples with his attorney, David LaGrand.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — A 24-year-old Shelby man was sentenced to 16 months to 15 years in prison Monday, April 11, in 27th Circuit Court, for a conviction of resisting/opposing/assaulting a police officer causing injury with a fourth-offense habitual offender designation after seriously injuring a Shelby police officer last fall.

Brett Anthony Peoples pleaded “no contest” to the charge last February.

A Shelby officer was knocked unconscious in the early morning hours of Oct. 29 outside of the Mercy Health Shelby hospital, according to Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Craig Mast.

The incident began at Peoples’ home, where police were dispatched to a domestic assault, Mast said. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for ingesting a large amount of prescription medication, according to the lieutenant. As he was being escorted out of the patrol car, the handcuffed Peoples lunged at the Shelby officer and knocked him to the ground, Mast said.

“I have known my client for some time, and he has struggled with substance abuse for quite some time,” said Peoples’ attorney David LaGrand. “He needs to stay away from alcohol.” The attorney said Peoples has strong family resources available to assist him. “His family wants to help him,” he said, adding that Peoples is “remorseful” for injuring the officer. “An officer was seriously injured here,” he said.

Peoples received credit for 71 days served in jail.