GREENFIELD — A Turners Falls man has been sentenced to three years in state prison after injuring a police officer during his arrest for robbery in December 2024.
Brenden C. Jacobs, 36, appeared in Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday to plead guilty to single counts of unarmed robbery, assault and battery on a police officer causing serious bodily injury, and carrying a dangerous weapon.
The three-year sentences for the first two charges will be served concurrently, with a one-year mandatory minimum. Jacobs will be on probation for two years upon his release for the dangerous weapon charge.
According to a report filed by Montague Police Sgt. Jacob Dlugosz, his department received a 911 call at roughly 10:25 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2024, reporting a robbery at the Nouria gas station at 132 Third St. The suspect stole $200 and headed north, toward the alley behind the Cutlery Block Apartments on Third Street.
Security images taken from 29 Avenue A showed an individual wearing clothing believed to be the same as the robbery suspect, and Dlugosz identified the man as Jacobs from past experience, the report states.
On Dec. 31, based on information from Montague Police Officer James Ruddock, Dlugosz drove to Avenue A and saw Jacobs at the bus stop in front of the Shea Theater Arts Center. Dlugosz reported that he approached Jacobs, who said he had heard about the robbery but didn’t commit it.
Dlugosz wrote in his report that Jacobs complied with a request to roll up his left pant leg, and Dlugosz observed several scabs and open sores like the ones seen on the individual on the security footage. Jacobs reportedly tried to pull away and flee when Dlugosz informed him he was under arrest, but Dlugosz used Jacobs’ momentum to push him toward the theater’s doors. Jacobs stopped struggling, only to resume when Dlugosz removed one of his hands to send a radio transmission to Ruddock.
“This scenario happened two more times. Every time, Jacobs stated he was done resisting, and I would release pressure [until] he began resisting again in an attempt to run away,” Dlugosz wrote in his report. “On the last time, I informed Jacobs that we were going to be going to the ground.”
According to Dlugosz, he attempted a modified arm bar takedown, causing both men to fall to the ground. Jacobs managed to get to his feet in a crouching position, forcing Dlugosz to tackle him to the ground to regain control. Dlugosz injured his left ankle during the struggle and later learned he had broken his lower left fibula.
According to the police report, a further search of Jacobs revealed a sheathed knife in his waistband and brass knuckles in his front left jacket pocket.
Dlugosz returned to work at roughly the end of January 2025.
