A St. Johnsbury man was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation Tuesday

A St. Johnsbury man was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation Tuesday following his third arrest in 24 hours, including separate assault incidents involving a hospital emergency worker and a Burlington Police patrol sergeant. Brandon Clough, 42, appeared Tuesday afternoon by video from the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town.  Judge Michael Harris ordered a mental evaluation. No pleas were entered to the two misdemeanor charges of simple assault on police and simple assault on a hospital worker. Officers learned Clough, awaiting to talk to a representative of the psychiatric department, reportedly assaulted a Clinical Patient Safety Attendant by punching him in the face without warning.  Sgt. Mellis, who had been inside the station when Clough was processed, finished his shift and was walking to his car in civilian clothes. Clough aggressively approached Mellis in the parking lot and attempted to assault him, throwing multiple punches. Mellis was able to block the punches and eventually took Clough to the ground to detain him. Police took Clough into custody for the third time in 24 hours and he was transported to the St. Albans prison. Clough is believed to have a limited police record. He also has arrests for charges of leaving the scene of an accident in Winooski in April 2021 and for driving while his license was suspended in South Burlington in April 2022.