A 21-year-old Salem man was charged in Marion County Court on Friday with aggravated battery to a police officer.
Matthew Burton allegedly spit on a Salem Police Officer trying to get him into a squad car to take him back to Salem Township Hospital where he left when undergoing an evaluation. Burton had been taken to the hospital emergency room earlier when allegedly breaking computers and other items at a home on Selmaville Road southwest of Salem.
Police tried to stop him while he was walking down a road near the hospital. He ran. After Salem Police and Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies apprehended him once, he was able to get away again. After the second apprehension, he was taken back to the hospital.
Following treatment, Burton was transported to the Marion County Jail to await a decision on formal charges.
During his first court appearance, Burton had a public defender approved to represent him. He was released on pretrial conditions. A preliminary hearing is set for October 1st.
