WEST CHESTER, PA — A resident of Lincoln University, PA, has been sentenced in court to 6 ½ – 13 years in state prison for burglarizing a victim’s home and injuring a Valley Township detective and police officer
Chester Court of Common Pleas Judge Louis A. Mincarelli sentenced Brian Barnett, age 31, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The defendant was convicted of burglary, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and disarming a law enforcement officer on March 20, 2023, after a bench trial. He pleaded guilty on April 26, 2023, to resisting arrest for another case.
“This defendant violently entered a home and assaulted both homeowners before turning his aggression and violence towards police. The detective who was injured during the arrest of the defendant, suffered severe nerve damage and now will never be able to work in this field again,” stated Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “We thank all responding officers for their bravery, and who continue to put their lives on the line to protect our community every day.“
According to information presented by Deputy District Attorneys William Judge and Emily Provencher, on December 13, 2020, at approximately 7:13 p.m., Valley Township Police were dispatched to a disturbance involving a male in possession of a knife and in a physical altercation in Coatesville, Valley Township. The defendant had gone inside the residence by forcing his way into the front door of the residence. While inside, the defendant assaulted the homeowners and they were able to force him outside the residence. Upon arrival, police officers found the defendant in the front yard and attempted to detain him.
The defendant physically resisted the responding officers. The defendant took the taser from one of officers and used it on the officer which caused pain to her hand. The defendant then intentionally caused injury to the left ankle and leg of the other detective at the scene as he continued to resist arrest. The officers saw that the defendant was in possession of a concealed firearm and a knife and later learned that his license to carry a concealed weapon was revoked. Multiple other police officers arrived on scene from various agencies to assist in the arrest of the defendant.
Both officers sought medical treatment at nearby hospitals. An additional officer suffered an asthma attack as a result of struggling to detain the defendant and was also treated at a hospital.
On November 8, 2019, the defendant was involved in a similar case, when members of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) responded to a house in the Lower Oxford Township, Chester County to serve a warrant on the defendant. PSP Troopers attempted to take the defendant into custody, but the defendant fled. PSP Troopers deployed a taser causing the defendant to fall to the ground. Troopers continued to give commands to the defendant to stop resisting and after some time the defendant was taken into custody.
Deputy District Attorneys William Judge and Emily Provencher prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan commended the Valley Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Barnett.
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