Deputy injured during disturbance

A Libby man is facing up to 10 years in prison following his arrest on a charge of assaulting a peace officer Dec. 8.

Thomas Joe Ellsworth, a 20-year-old Libby resident, was charged with one misdemeanor count of obstructing a peace officer and one felony count of assault on a peace officer, following a reported disturbance in Libby. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Huff made the arrest.

In the affidavit of probable cause, Huff reported arresting Ellsworth for assaulting Deputy Steve Short, who had been dispatched to Ellsworth’s residence on Fifth Street to investigate the disturbance.

“On Dec. 8, 2015, at about 0910 hours, Deputy Steve Short was at 2780 E. Fifth Street investigating a reported disturbance,” Huff wrote in the report. “While investigating the disturbance, Short was in contact with Ellsworth in his residence. Ellsworth became aggressive with Short by yelling and taking an aggressive posture, hindering Short’s investigation. Short attempted to detain Ellsworth by taking control of him and placing him in handcuffs. Ellsworth actively resisted the detention, and then, by his own admission punched Deputy Short in the face. After striking Short, Ellsworth said that he believed him to be unconscious. Ellsworth said he climbed on top of Short and cocked back his fist to continue striking Short. Ellsworth said he was pulled off Short by Thomas Ellsworth, Sr. at that time.”

In the narrative, Huff also reported Short suffered a fractured nasal bone, a laceration under his right eye and an unspecified injury to his left ankle as a result of the assault.

The misdemeanor charge of obstructing a peace officers is punishable by up to six months imprisonment and $500 in fines. The felony assault charge carries a maximum of $50,000 in fines and 10 years in prison.

Ellsworth is being held in the Lincoln County jail on $100,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 7.