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NILES — A Mishawaka man who attacked a police officer was sentenced to prison and another man received probation for a similar offense Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.        

Myquise Lydell Jackson, 36, of Mishawaka, pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 12 months to two years in prison. He has credit for 75 days already served and must pay $326 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred July 8, 2023 in Niles Township.

Arnold said Jackson’s actions were “very uncalled for.”

“He became extremely out of control and irate during a traffic stop,” she said. “He went from zero to 10 very quickly and attacked the officer.”

Briseno said that Jackson has had time to reflect on his actions and knows what he did was wrong. Jackson reiterated that he knows what he did was wrong and apologized for his actions.

“This is not your first resisting and obstructing charge,” Judge Smith said. “You’ve had opportunities in the past. I would note the seriousness of the resisting and obstructing in this case. You had your hands on the deputy’s neck. He had bruising on his neck, this was more than pulling your arm away.”

Daniel Dashawn Williams, 27, of South Bend and Benton Harbor, pleaded no contest to attempted assault by strangulation and resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced to three years probation in the Swift & Sure Sanctions Program, 180 days in jail with credit for 157 days served and $726 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Feb. 2 in Niles Township when he tried to strangle another person and then resisted police. He pleaded no contest because he was high on drugs and doesn’t remember the incident.

Arnold noted that the victim said he was traumatized by the incident and felt like he was fighting for his life.

Briseno said Williams had benefited from being in jail and started to straighten his life around. Williams apologized for his actions. “When I have drugs in my system, I’m not the same person,” he said.

Judge Smith noted that the incident was frightening for the victim. “Being on drugs in no way excuses what you did,” she said. “It’s concerning that you got so high you didn’t know what you were doing.”