Pittsburgh man accused of attacking 3 guards at Westmoreland County Prison

A Pittsburgh man being booked into the Westmoreland County Prison last week is accused of attacking three guards, according to court papers.

Jason Owens, 20, was arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated and simple assault. He is being held on $25,000 bail in each of three cases.

County detectives said Owens was being processed into the Hempfield jail at 6:30 a.m. March 8. Strangulation and retaliation charges were filed against him that day by Greensburg police after a woman reported that he choked and beat her at 3:30 a.m., according to court papers.

The woman told police she only let Owens inside her apartment to retrieve his belongings and used pepper spray on him when he attacked her. He is accused of slamming her head against a door and police said he tried to prevent them from talking to the woman. Owens was taken to jail and put in a restraint chair after creating a “threatening disturbance,” according to court records.

After his bail was set at $75,000 in the strangulation case, investigators said Owens was moved to a different room to complete the booking process. Corrections officers reported that the suspect became violent and tried to hit one of them in the head as they handcuffed him, according to court papers.

Owens is accused of using his fingernails to tear the skin of a second guard and a third officer reported back and wrist injuries, police said. The incident was captured on surveillance video.

The strangulation and related charges were held for court during a preliminary hearing Thursday. Preliminary hearings in the assault cases are set for March 22.