Woman convicted of attacking 2 HPD officers in Forrest County in 2023

FORREST COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – A Forrest County woman has been sentenced after being accused of assaulting Hattiesburg Police Department officers during a 2023 arrest.

Breonna Gwin, 29, was convicted on two counts of simple assault on a law enforcement officer in Forrest County Circuit Court on Oct. 16 after the jury’s guilty verdict was announced, according to 12th Circuit Court District Attorney Lin Carter.

Forrest County Circuit Judge Wes Curry presided over the case.

The district attorney’s office said the assaults occurred on Oct. 23, 2023, when HPD officers were called to a home in the 100 block of East 3rd Street in connection with a Child Welfare Agency call for service.

When officers arrived, they learned that Gwin, who was convicted of a drive-by shooting in Forrest County in 2018, had been involved in a physical fight with his mother.

According to information received from the regional prosecutor’s office, police teams investigating the scene made efforts to calm the situation. But Gwin became increasingly frustrated and soon hit one of the officers in the face.

Gwin was then arrested and placed in the back of a locked HPD patrol car. The arresting officers returned to the home to continue their investigation and confirm the safety of everyone present.

About a minute after Gwin was placed in the patrol car, the district attorney’s office said officers heard glass breaking coming from the direction of the patrol car down the street.

Officers then saw Gwin running toward them in the middle of 3rd Street. HPD patrol car camera footage revealed that Gwin broke free of one of his handcuffs, kicked open the car’s backseat window, and jumped out of the car into the street.

Gwin then used the open handcuffs to strike another officer in the head, causing injuries to his ear and face and requiring the officer to be taken by ambulance to Forrest General Hospital for treatment.

The district attorney’s office said Gwin was then subdued by officers and taken to the Forrest County Jail.

“The safety of our communities will continue to be a priority in my office,” Carter said. “The escalation of a domestic disturbance is troubling, and in this case I am grateful that Hattiesburg Police Department officers were able to get the situation under control before things got worse.

“I am also grateful that the CPS specialist on the scene was attentive and did not hesitate to call 911 for help.”

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Shoemaker prosecuted the case.

Following the conviction at trial, Gwin was released into the custody of Forrest County Sheriff Charlie Sims to await sentencing in Forrest County Circuit Court at a later date.

“I want to thank Chief Hardy Sims and the Hattiesburg Police Department for their work in bringing this case to its conclusion,” Carter said. “This was a case where the City’s WatchGuard camera system really helped my office show the jury, moment by moment, exactly what was happening.”

Carter said both victim officers in the case continue to work for the police department, wishes them the best and thanks them and their families for their service.

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