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Indecent assault suspect to be held in prison

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A Butler Township man accused of having inappropriate contact with a woman and then spitting on a police officer after his arrest was granted nominal bail Monday, but ordered to remain in Butler County Prison pending the outcome of his upcoming trial.

Shawn L. Polliard, 54, was granted his release from jail on nominal bond because he hasn’t been brought to trial since he withdrew his guilty plea more than 120 days ago.

Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCune granted the motion, but ordered that Polliard remain in custody and not be released to address a detainer filed against him in Allegheny County pending his trial, which is schedule to begin the week of July 14.

Police charged Polliard with felony aggravated assault by an inmate, a misdemeanor count of indecent assault, and summary charges of harassment and criminal mischief following an alleged Jan. 26, 2022, incident.

According to an affidavit, a woman called police shortly after 2 a.m. to an apartment on the 100 block of Alameda Road.

The woman told officers she was sleeping on a sofa when Polliard woke her and started kissing her.

“The (woman) told Polliard to leave her alone,” said the investigating officer in the affidavit.

The woman told officers Polliard grabbed her inappropriately over her clothes. She told police Polliard released her after she asked for a cigarette and, when she went outside to smoke, she called 911.

Police said when they arrived, Polliard was sleeping on a sofa. Police woke him, arrested him and brought him to their station, where he was placed in a holding cell.

Polliard rattled the cell doors, punched the metal toilet in the cell causing his hand to bleed, and spat on an officer’s forehead and right leg, police said. Polliard suffered a minor cut on his hand that caused the bleeding. He refused medical treatment, police said.

Police said Polliard spat toward another officer and it landed on the floor near the officer’s boots.

Police said because of Polliard’s actions, blood and saliva needed to be cleaned from the floor and cell, and officers were subjected to his saliva, which could have contained communicable diseases.

Polliard entered into a plea agreement in April 2024 in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by an inmate and indecent assault, but he withdrew his plea in December 2024.

Jury selection is scheduled for July 8.

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