Man accused of throwing chair in courtroom

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JOLIET, Ill., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- An Illinois man who accused a police officer of a racially provoked attack is facing an assault charge for throwing a courtroom chair at the officer.

Joliet City attorney Greg Smith said Lavelle Watts Jr., 32, became enraged Thursday when a jury ruled against Watts in his civil suit against Joliet Officer Joshua Sawyer, whom Watts accused of twisting his arm and slamming him into a car while saying things wouldn't "be easier" for Watts "now that we've got a black president. The alleged indicate was related to call Sawyer responded to in March 2009 regarding a domestic disturbance call at Watts' girlfriend's house, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

Watts allegedly threw a courtroom chair at Sawyer Thursday before scuffling with the officer and jumping on a bench.

Watts was arrested by deputy U.S. marshals. Sawyer was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for an injury to his left arm.

The arrest report said Watts confessed to deputies. He is now facing a federal assault charge.