A police officer and a shoplifting suspect were injured during a fracas Monday when the suspect refused to stop, drop a stick and comply with the officer.
Orange police report 36-year-old LeeRonald Maurice Budwine of Orange is now facing a charge of aggravated assault on a police officer along with resisting arrest and misdemeanor theft.
The officer had a swollen elbow and arm. The officer inadvertently hit his own elbow with his service flashlight during the struggle with the man.
The fight began about 8:20 a.m. Monday when HEB, 2424 16th Street reported a shoplifter pushing a grocery cart of items he did not pay for.
The patrol officer reported he saw the described man carrying a stick and pushing a grocery cart west on Church Street on the other side of 16th Street from HEB. The officer said he turned on his emergency lights and asked the man to stop and drop the stick. However, the man would not stop.
The officer got out and again ordered the man to stop and drop the stick. Again, the man would not stop. The officer said he saw the man’s right hand go to his shorts pocket, which had a bulge in it like it might be a weapon.
Even though the officer pulled a shock stun gun on the suspect, the man would not stop and drop the stick. The officer said he put up the shock gun and tried to get the man to the ground. After both were on the ground, the suspect managed to break free and run away.
However, the officer quickly caught up to him and they struggled again. The officer said at one point the suspect got behind him and could reach the officer’s service gun. The officer used his department flashlight to hit the man and in the wrestling, hit his own elbow. At one point, the officer hit the man in the head with the flashlight. Finally, the officer was able to hit the man’s hand with the flashlight to make the man surrender.
The man was taken to the Medical Center of Southeast Texas before being taken to the Orange County Jail.
The officer reported he went to a local emergency clinic to be treated for his swelling and injured elbow.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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