Connellsville teen awaiting robbery trial allegedly assaulted prisoner over coffee
A Connellsville man who is in jail on robbery charges allegedly broke bones in a prisoner’s face over a cup of coffee.
Malcolm Jamal Dyer, 18, is charged with aggravated assault and simple assault in his new case.
The alleged victim, Michael Spedden, provided a written statement to Fayette County Prison staff and Uniontown City Police saying his commissary coffee was stolen from his cot while he was using the bathroom Monday. He confronted all the prisoners, and Dyer reportedly called Spedden into his cell. Spedden reported Dyer “immediately threw his hands up to fight saying he took it and to come in and get it,” court documents said.
Spedden said he tried to talk to Dyer civilly and repeatedly moved backwards, he reported to police. Dyer then allegedly punched Spedden in the head and face about 10 to 15 times. He suffered a fractured nose, fractured orbital bone and a head injury, according to court paperwork.
Dyer is in jail on robbery charges for allegedly holding a couple at gunpoint and threatening to kill them and their toddler at a Gibson Terrace apartment Nov. 29. He faces a formal arraignment Thursday on those charges, along with a third case on charges of drug possession with intent to deliver in Connellsville. He is facing charges in a fourth Fayette County case for allegedly possessing drugs with intent to deliver, also in Connellsville.
Bail was set at $10,000 in the assault case.