A Newberry man driving a Jeep is accused of hitting and damaging a flagpole in front of the VFW in Worthington then leaving the scene.

Joseph David Brasseur, 39, Newberry, was arrested by Deputy Marshal Ryan Montgomery of the Worthington Police Department late Monday, February 24, on a warrant that was issued out of Knox County.

Brasseur was wanted on preliminary charges of felony strangulation and misdemeanor theft and battery resulting in bodily injury.

Brasseur was booked into the Greene County Jail at 10:46 p.m. that Monday but has since been transferred to Knox County.

Last Friday, a new criminal case was filed against Brasseur in Greene County as a result of an investigation by WPD Officer Montgomery.

Around 8:45 p.m. on the Monday of Brasseur’s arrest, Officer Montgomery started looking for a Jeep Wrangler that had been traveling south on State Road 67, left the road and hit a flagpole at VFW Post 7117 located at 25 North Commercial Street in Worthington. The Jeep then backed up and left the area, headed back south on the highway.

Officer Montgomery became aware of the incident when two individuals who were traveling behind the Jeep and witnessed it stopped Officer Montgomery and told him about it. Officer Montgomery said these witnesses reported the incident within minutes.

Officer Montgomery was then headed south on SR 67 in an attempt to locate the Jeep when the same witnesses saw the Jeep at the Worthington Food Mart (formerly Vest’s Marathon) at 830 South Commercial Street. One of them called dispatch and Montgomery located the Jeep parked at a gas pump. He said it was a gray 1993 Jeep Wrangler with large tires and distinctive features including several after-market parts that made it easy to distinguish compared to other Jeeps.

Brasseur was the driver who told Officer Montgomery he had not been involved in any accident. He was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail on the warrant.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Davis Aerne assisted on the scene.

Officer Montgomery continued his investigation over the next few days, interviewing witnesses, obtaining video surveillance footage and photographing the damage at the VFW where he said the tire tracks closely matched the tread of tires on Brasseur’s vehicle.

The damage to the VFW flagpole is estimated to cost $450 to repair.

In Greene County, Brasseur is now facing preliminary charges of criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, and leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor.

He is being summoned to appear in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing in mid-April.