PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Officials say a man charged with the random killing of a Maine tree farmer was accused of assaulting an officer inside a jail before his scheduled court appearance on a murder charge.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's office says the officer suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital and released after the encounter with Quinton Hanna on Thursday.

Hanna is charged in the stabbing death of 82-year-old  James Pearson, of Scarborough. Police said Hanna killed Pearson, a fixture in the community for decades, in his front yard on Sunday.

Hanna's lawyer requested a psychological evaluation for his client.

More From