An inmate at the Washington County Jail caused damage in a cell and assaulted a jailer early Thursday morning.

According to the Washington County Communications Office, 31-year-old Billie Earl Nowell was causing damage at about 5:48 a.m. Washington Police and Washington County Sheriff’s personnel responded to the jail and Nowell assaulted a jailer and punched a window area with his hand. Charges are pending for assault. Eight units had responded to the jail a few hours earlier when Nowell was damaging property in his cell at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday.

On May 9th, authorities assisted at the jail when Nowell was again out of control and charges of criminal mischief, harassment, and disorderly conduct were were added. On March 3rd, charges were served on Nowell at the jail for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. In February, one law enforcement officer went to the Washington County Hospital emergency room, when Nowell was arrested for assault on a peace officer, willful injury causing serious injury, two counts of assault on a peace officer, and interference with official acts in a correctional facility – three felony counts and two serious misdemeanors.

The sheriff’s office states he was first arrested in January on three drug related charges.