Charges filed against inmate who injured jail officer

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -- Formal charges have been filed against an inmate who injured a jail officer during an incident at the Marshall County Jail on September 13.

Zachary Cowger has been charged with battery resulting in injury upon a public safety officer, a level 5 felony punishable by up to 6 years in prison.

Around 8:25 p.m., Marshall County and Plymouth Police were called to the jail for a combative inmate and injured officer.

Cowger allegedly violated jail rules and was angry his cell door was closed, according to reports.

When Officer Billy Schoff confronted Cowger about his behavior, Cowger struck him several times, according to the prosecutor's office.

Schoff lost consciousness and fell to the floor. He suffered a cut above his right eye which required emergency medical attention and stitches, reports said.

Cowger was in jail awaiting trial on two pending cases involving charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon, battery resulting in bodily injury, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, battery resulting in bodily injury on a police officer and resisting law enforcement.

The day before the jail incident, Cowger's attorney filed a plea agreement in these cases. He is scheduled to be sentenced in these cases on November 2.