Drug dealer 1st to be convicted by jury of assault on police officer in Delco

A convicted drug dealer from Philadelphia today became the first person to be convicted by a jury of assault on a police officer in Delaware County since the law was enacted in 2008.

Brandon Schonfeld, 32, faces a mandatory 20 to 40 years in prison for punching and shooting at a Sharon Hill Police Officer Sean Johnson, said a spokeswoman for the Delaware Co. District Attorney's office.

According to an affidavit, Schonfeld was driving erratically when Johnson pulled him over on Sept. 9, 2013. Schonfeld appeared nervous and began to unbuckle his seatbelt to get out of his Nissan sedan.

Johnson asked him exit the vehicle and began to pat Schonfeld down. As Johnson attempted to put Schonfeld in handcuffs, Schonfeld thrust an elbow into the police officer and then ran across three lanes of traffic. As Johnson gave pursuit on foot, Schonfeld aimed a handgun at him and fired. The officer returned fire, striking Schonfeld twice, according to court papers.

When police captured him, Schonfeld had $1,800 in cash and quantities of marijuana and cocaine in his possession.

In addition to the assault on police officer charge, Schonfeld was also found guilty of aggravated assault, drug possession with intent to deliver, and several firearms counts.