An Independence County man has been charged in circuit court with interference with a law enforcement officer — a felony.
Court documents said the incident for cause of arrest occurred Monday when officers were investigating a reported aggravated assault. The complainant, Moses Robert, told officers he had been having issues with Kirkland Baker. Robert said Kirkland and another man had been chasing him around west Batesville, and the other man, later identified as David Lashun Johnson, 23, was riding in the passenger seat of a white Jeep SUV and shooting at him.
Police found the SUV in the Peco parking lot with Baker and Johnson in it. As Sgt. Rick Davis began to interview the driver, Kirkland Baker, Baker became belligerent. Officers on site said as Davis struggled with taking Baker into custody, the passenger, Johnson got out of the vehicle and grabbed Officer Davis, resulting in Davis swinging at Johnson and smacking him in the mouth. Officers managed to take both into custody, charging Johnson with the felony of interfering with a law enforcement officer.
Johnson has been charged in Independence County Circuit Court by Deputy Prosecutor Eric Hance. Johnson’s bond was set at $50,000.
The court information said Officer Davis was taken to the White River Medical Center with a cut on his hand, apparently caused when he hit Johnson in the teeth.
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