Pennsylvania Man Charged with Forcibly Assaulting Federal Law Enforcement Officers in Cleveland
Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland returned a three-count indictment charging Dewayne Taylor, age 31, of Harrisburg, PA, with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding or interfering with federal law enforcement officer; using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on December 11, 2020, members of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) were searching for the defendant due to an arrest warrant issued by the State of Pennsylvania Parole Authority. NOVFTF officers received information that the defendant was at a Walmart in the city of Cleveland and attempted to make an arrest. During the attempt, it is alleged that the defendant noticed the NOVFTF members, got into his vehicle, and pointed a firearm at one of the officers. In response, some of the NOVFTF members discharged their firearms, striking the defendant in the shoulder. The NOVFTF members rendered first aid until EMS arrived and transported the defendant to the hospital.
The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions for conspiracy to commit burglary and burglary in the in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshal’s Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Cleveland Division of Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly L. Galvin.
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