A 25-year-old man was sentenced to 10 months in prison today for a probation violation and a drug-fueled run-in with Norwich police in January.

Nathaniel Moore was arrested Jan. 20 after he approached a Norwich police officer who had responded to a 911 hang-up from a Norwich Avenue address, according to prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla. Moore is the older brother of Darnell Moore, 24, who was sentenced earlier this month to 53 years in prison for the August 2010 shooting death of Namdi Smart in Norwich.

“He approached the driver’s side (of the police cruiser) and said he had been smoking too much 'dust' and his brother is in jail,” Tytla said. A struggled ensued, and Moore punched the police officer in the nose, resulting in swelling but no permanent injury, according to Tytla.

Moore had pleaded guilty to third-degree assault under the Alford Doctrine -- under which he does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state has evidence -- because he does not agree with the state’s representation of the facts.

At the time of his arrest, Moore had been on probation after serving a year in prison for a 2010 conviction for second-degree unlawful restraint.

Moore’s father and other family members who had watched Darnell Moore’s murder trial and sentencing were in court for Nathaniel’s case. His attorney, Peter E. Scillieri, said Moore is surrounded by people who love him but has “underlying issues.”

Judge Susan B. Handy told him he needs to break the cycle of reoffending.

Moore told the judge he won't be getting into any more trouble.