A man who was previously acquitted in the shooting death of a police officer has now been convicted of assaulting a deputy sheriff during his arrest. Ray Shetler Jr., 39, from New Florence, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of aggravated assault, attempted disarming of a law enforcement official, and resisting arrest in a violent confrontation that took place in St. Clair Township in December 2021. However, he was acquitted of another count of aggravated assault.
The incident occurred when law enforcement officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Shetler, who was already on probation for theft-related convictions in 2018. He had failed a drug test and did not appear at a probation hearing, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant. State troopers and county sheriff’s deputies eventually found him hiding in a friend’s trailer, which resulted in a violent confrontation. Testimonies from officers indicated that Shetler aggressively resisted arrest.
During the trial, Shetler claimed that he was beaten by multiple officers and that a stun device caused permanent eye damage. His defense attorney, Michael Garofalo, presented a picture of Shetler’s bloodied face, arguing that no one should look like that after failing to appear for court. However, Garofalo declined to comment after the verdict was announced.
This is not the first time Shetler has faced legal troubles. In 2018, he was acquitted of first- and third-degree murder charges in connection with the shooting death of a police officer named Lloyd Reed. The incident occurred in November 2015 when Reed responded to a domestic violence call at Shetler’s home. According to witnesses, Reed ordered Shetler to drop a rifle, but Shetler fired back, ultimately killing the officer. Shetler claimed that he did not know Reed was a police officer and acted in self-defense. However, he was convicted of theft and stolen property counts.
The recent conviction of Shetler for assaulting a deputy sheriff during his arrest highlights his ongoing legal issues. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for the Brooklyn subway shooter, emphasizing the seriousness of such offenses. As this case concludes, it serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement officers in carrying out their duties and the potential dangers they encounter.
