An Urbana man is facing charges after allegedly bringing brass knuckles into the Champaign County Municipal Court building last week.
According to an Urbana Police Division report, officers were contacted around 10:30 a.m. on May 21 by staff at the Champaign County Municipal Court inside the Urbana Municipal Building on South Main Street regarding 26-year-old Ashton Taylor.
A court bailiff told police that Taylor arrived for an arraignment and was stopped before entering the courtroom lobby’s metal detector. He instructed Taylor to empty his pockets, at which time Taylor allegedly removed a pair of brass knuckles and placed them on a clipboard.
Police described the weapon as a solid metal set of brass knuckles with four finger holes and a palm brace capable of causing serious physical harm.
After Taylor’s arraignment, the bailiff reported that Taylor requested the weapon be returned to him. When informed it would not be returned, Taylor allegedly became upset and made comments indicating concern that people were after him, while also referencing other weapons.
The brass knuckles were confiscated and later turned over to police.
According to the report, officers initially attempted to locate Taylor before he voluntarily came to the Urbana Police Division for an interview. After being advised of his rights, Taylor told investigators he found the brass knuckles outside and turned them over to the bailiff before going through security.
Investigators reviewed courthouse surveillance footage but reported they did not observe Taylor picking up the weapon in the area he initially described. Police said Taylor later changed his account and claimed he found the brass knuckles near a nearby church.
Police photographed and logged the weapon into evidence. The case remains under investigation.
