Venango jail inmate accused of assaulting employee

The jail employee told police that during a cell search, Erin Emery, 40, was ordered to step out of her cell for officer safety, the complaint said. Multiple items of Emery’s clothing that violated prison rules were removed, according to the complaint.

She continued to ignore orders to lock down and physically attacked the employee in an attempt to stop him from taking the clothing, according to the complaint.

Emery scratched the employee’s neck and throat and lunged to grab a hold of him, the complaint said.

She risked causing death or serious bodily injury to the employee because of the environment and conditions that were present at the time, according to the complaint.

“All officers involved were required to utilize physical force and chemical agents to overcome her resistance and lock her down in her cell so that the victim could be removed from the area and treated,” the complaint said.

Police noticed multiple fresh injuries to the employee’s throat and neck and the employee showed symptoms of having been exposed to mace, the complaint said.

Police observed no significant injuries to Emery, and the area where she claimed she was struck showed little or no redness, which was consistent with other officers’ statements that proper and justified force was used, according to the complaint.

Emery was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault — attempts to cause or causes bodily injury to designated individuals, aggravated assault — fear of imminent serious bodily injury to designated individuals, and assault by prisoner facility employee; and misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and resisting arrest.

She was arraigned Thursday, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.