Case against man accused of knocking out officer heads to trial.

Brett Peoples with his attorney, Timothy Hayes.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — The case against the 24-year-old Shelby man accused of knocking a Shelby police officer unconscious last October is headed to trial next month.

Brett Anthony Peoples, of 109 Pine St., appeared in 27th Circuit Court Monday, Jan. 4, with his attorney Timothy Hayes. The prosecution and the defense have not reached a resolution in the case, and it was set for trial on Feb. 10 and 11.

Peoples was arrested Oct. 29 by the the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) for felonies of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer causing injury; assaulting/resisting/obstructing a police officer (two counts); and fourth-offense habitual offender.

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

The incident reportedly began at People’s home, where police were dispatched to a domestic assault. The Shelby officer called OCSO deputies to the scene for backup, but Peoples put forth no resistance at the scene, Mast said. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for allegedly ingesting a large amount of prescription medication. As he was being escorted out of the patrol car, the handcuffed Peoples allegedly lunged at the Shelby officer and knocked him to the ground, Mast said. OCSO deputies on scene were able to detain him.