North Carolina inmate charged with punching deputy at jail

GASTONIA, NC (AP) — An inmate at a North Carolina jail is accused of punching a deputy sheriff and damaging a correctional officer’s property in separate incidents.

Citing an arrest warrant, the Gaston Gazette reports 22-year-old Michael Caleb Pace hit a deputy who was trying to “control a disruptive inmate” Sunday at the Gaston County jail. The deputy was hit in his cheek and forehead.

Pace is also charged with “wantonly” damaging a detention officer’s digital watch.

The injury to personal property and assault on a government official charges are both misdemeanors.

According to jail records, he was also charged with misdemeanor assault on a government official last week. Those details weren’t released. Records show he’s been charged with more than 20 crimes this year.

It’s unclear whether he has a lawyer.

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Information from: The Gaston Gazette, http://www.gastongazette.com

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