Schuylkill County Man Jailed After Allegedly Assaulting Sheriff Deputies at Courthouse

A Schuylkill County man was jailed Monday after he allegedly assaulted two Sheriff’s Dept. deputies at the Courthouse in Pottsville.

The Sheriff’s Dept. says that at shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, Brach Gibbons, 43, of Schuylkill Haven, came to Schuylkill County Courthouse and approached the security entrance.

Gibbons placed some of his belongings in a bin to be scanned and then walked around the body scanner/metal detector.

When he walked around the scanner instead of going through it, a deputy stopped him and told him that first, he needed to take his belt off for it to be scanned, and that he had to go through the body scanner, not around it.

Gibbons allegedly said it was a violation of his rights to force him to go through the body scanner and to force him to remove his belt.

Courthouse visitors are now required to remove their belts to be scanned. It’s a relatively recent rule that was added to security protocol earlier this year.

Gibbons was reportedly told that if he didn’t comply with the rules for entering the Courthouse, he would have to leave. He reportedly became argumentative and continued to claim that his rights were being violated.

Backup from other members of the Sheriff’s Dept., including outgoing Sheriff Joseph Groody and Sheriff-elect Shawn Butler, came to the scene as Gibbons allegedly got louder and combative.

Gibbons still refused to leave the Courthouse and then allegedly began shouting profanities while pointing his finger in the face of one deputy.

A deputy then ordered Gibbons to leave the building but he allegedly refused so authorities began to forcibly remove him. Gibbons reportedly became so combative during this confrontation that it took several deputies were needed to get him cuffed and under control enough to get him out of the Courthouse.

On his way out of the building in cuffs, authorities say Gibbons kicked one Sheriff’s deputy and spit on another.

Gibbons was arraigned Monday before District Magistrate Judge Edward Tarentelli. He’s been charged with two felony counts of aggravated assult of a desingated individual as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, and defiant trespass.

Tarantelli set bail at $75,000 and Gibbons was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.

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