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A Sharptown man accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer has appealed his conviction, moving the case and evidence that tells a different story to the county's highest trial court.

Generally, corrections officers serve as a buffer between criminals and the general public, but detention center surveillance video and incident reports obtained by The Daily Times show a tale in which roles were altered. They document an assault in which corrections officers were forced to shield 45-year-old Henry Hugh Driver from a Wicomico County sheriff's deputy.

Assault and obstructing and hindering charges were filed against Driver following an incident inside the Wicomico County Detention Center around 9:10 p.m. June 29. He was taken into custody by Dfc. Edwin C. Tull on a warrant for second-degree assault, according to charging documents.

After Driver was transported to the detention center and seated in the booking area of the facility, the deputy reported he served Driver with a copy of an arrest warrant and a protective order. After explaining the contents of the paperwork, the deputy asked if Driver understood.

Driver threw his copy of the protective order in the direction of the deputy after the deputy dropped it in his lap, according to corrections officers.

"Driver Henry stood up, Deputy Tull stood up grabbed Driver Henry by the throat and slammed him against the wall," wrote Corrections Officer Jenkins.

A second corrections officer, identified as Humphries, corroborated Jenkins' report of Tull grabbing Driver by the throat.

An edited copy of surveillance video shows Driver and Tull seated across from each other before the deputy stands up. Driver is getting up out of his chair when Tull grabs him, and both men topple to the floor and the scuffle moves to another room.

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