A former inmate in the Allegheny County Jail was charged with multiple counts of assault Monday in connection to an October tussle that injured five correctional officers.

John W. Hirschfield, 34, of Scott Township, is accused of breaking one officer’s hand, biting another and strangling a third during the Oct. 5 fight in the intake area of the jail.

Hirschfield, who is listed in court documents as 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, was waiting in the intake area around 8:40 p.m. when another inmate bumped into him and Hirschfield flew into a rage, according to a criminal complaint.

Hirschfield began to yell racial slurs at the other inmate, then jumped over a row of chairs and pulled the chairs over in what appeared to an attempt to create a barricade, according to the complaint.

Officer Angela McQuaide approached Hirschfield, at which point he suddenly lunged from behind the chairs and attacked her, knocking her to the ground with his hands around her neck, according to the complaint. He struck her several times, according to the complaint.

Other correctional officers intervened and were also attacked, according to the complaint. Officer Brandon Carter’s right hand was injured and Officer Derek Schmotzer’s knee was injured when Hirschfield tackled him.

At the time, sources said the officers believed Hirschfield may have been high on synthetic marijuana, also known as K2.

Hirschfield bit and spit at other officers before he was subdued, according to the complaint. He’d been jailed on outstanding warrants in Butler County and Allegheny County.

Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs said Tuesday that Hirschfield was released to Butler County Prison on Feb. 14.

He is charged in a warrant with three felony counts of assault, six counts of aggravated harassment, four misdemeanor assaults, reckless endangerment and strangulation.

Shelly Bradbury: 412-263-1999, sbradbury@post-gazette.com or follow @ShellyBradbury on Twitter.

First Published: March 6, 2018, 5:10 p.m.