Grand jury indicts former New Castle police officer nearly one year after violent encounter

A former New Castle police officer has been indicted by a grand jury nearly one year after a video showing the officer slamming a man's head into the ground numerous times during an arrest was posted. Ronald Williams has been charged with deprivation of civil rights. The grand jury said Williams deprived the man in the video of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure by repeatedly slamming his face into the floor without justification at the man's home. Williams was fired after the encounter was caught on camera. Police Chief Robert Salem said Williams had been terminated for violating department policies and procedures. Police had asked for time to conduct a "full, fair and impartial investigation" of the video. It was widely shared on social media after the April 23 incident occurred on East Washington Street, in which two officers responded to a call about a domestic disturbance involving a juvenile and an intoxicated man. The man was taken to UPMC Jameson Hospital, where he was treated for cuts to the head, police said. A criminal complaint identified him as Perry Lowry, 49, and said he was taken to the Lawrence County Jail on charges of simple assault, harassment and resisting arrest.

A former New Castle police officer has been indicted by a grand jury nearly one year after a video showing the officer slamming a man's head into the ground numerous times during an arrest was posted.

Ronald Williams has been charged with deprivation of civil rights. The grand jury said Williams deprived the man in the video of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure by repeatedly slamming his face into the floor without justification at the man's home.


Williams was fired after the encounter was caught on camera.

Police Chief Robert Salem said Williams had been terminated for violating department policies and procedures.

Police had asked for time to conduct a "full, fair and impartial investigation" of the video. It was widely shared on social media after the April 23 incident occurred on East Washington Street, in which two officers responded to a call about a domestic disturbance involving a juvenile and an intoxicated man.

The man was taken to UPMC Jameson Hospital, where he was treated for cuts to the head, police said. A criminal complaint identified him as Perry Lowry, 49, and said he was taken to the Lawrence County Jail on charges of simple assault, harassment and resisting arrest.