Clark Co. man in U.S. custody in Secret Service attack

UPDATE @ 4:05 p.m. March 12: Ronald E. Skelton II Clark County now faces federal charges stemming from the March 5 assault of a Secret Service agent and a Clark County deputy who tried to interview him about threats he allegedly made against President Obama and other government officials.

Skelton, 19 of Springfield Twp., was transferred today from the Clark County Jail into custody of the U.S. Secret Service, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court issued an arrest warrant against Skelton on two counts of assault on a federal officer, court documents show.

According to the federal warrant, Shelton “knowingly did forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede intimidate and interfere with Special Agent Matthew Schierloh, an officer and employee of the United States.” The second charge stems from the alleged assault of Deputy Todd Shillito while he was assisting a federal employee.

UPDATE @ 10:45 a.m. March 6: The man appeared in Clark County Municipal Court Friday morning and pleaded not guilty. His bond was set at $250,000. During the hearing, Skelton was informed that more felony charges are coming from the federal government.

FIRST REPORT: March 5: A 19-year-old Clark County man who allegedly made threats against President Obama assaulted a Secret Service agent and deputy this afternoon when they tried to talk to him, according to the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

Ronald E. Skelton II, was arrested at his home in the 1600 block of Grant Road in Springfield Twp. and was booked into the Clark County Jail on suspicion of felonious assault and assault, online jail records show.

Secret Service agents and sheriff’s office detectives went to Skelton’s home Thursday afternoon to investigate online threats Skelton made against the president, police and other politicians on his Twitter account, according to an incident report.

Skelton was on the driveway of his Grant Road home when Secret Service agents asked to talk to him. Skelton became “belligerent” and made anti-government comments, according to a news release about the arrest.

Detective Todd Shillito intervened, and asked to check Skelton for weapons because of the previous threats and his “defiant” posture. That’s when Skelton allegedly punched the detective on the left side of the head and punched one of the agents in the face, causing significant injury, said sheriff’s Maj. Russel Garman.

The officers wrestled Skelton to the ground and placed him into custody.

The agent and Shillito were treated for their injuries and released from Springfield Regional Medical Center.

The investigation into Skelton began Wednesday, after the sheriff’s office received a complaint that Skelton posted that he wanted to kill Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush on his Twitter account. The sheriff’s office is required to report such activity to the Secret Service, Garman said, and agents came to Springfield Thursday to talk with Skelton.

Skelton also tweeted he would break into cops’ homes and cause physical harm to their families, according to the incident report.

Skelton will be arraigned Friday morning in Clark County Municipal Court.