DECATUR, Ga. -- A 46-year-old reportedly intoxicated man who was found slumped over near a railroad viaduct bit the hand of a police officer who responded to a call to check on his welfare.
Jeffery A. Holmes of Decatur was arraigned Tuesday on two felony counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated resisting a peace officer. He was being held in the Macon County Jail on $15,000 bond.
At 5:20 p.m. Oct. 25, Decatur police officers arrived at the viaduct in the 900 block of East Condit Street where they found Holmes, along with emergency medical personnel from Decatur Ambulance Service, according to a sworn statement by patrol officer Amber Patient.
"I observed the subject to be irate, demanding to know who called the police on him," Patient wrote. "I also observed the subject to be highly intoxicated."
Holmes initially refused to give his name or birth date to the police, but then divulged two false names, along with birth dates. When Patient reported the names to a dispatcher, she was informed there were no records corresponding to those names.
Officers then tried to locate a wallet on Holmes. He became "extremely combative," ignoring verbal commands and pulling away from officers. Two officers tried to take Holmes to the ground, but he resisted. Patient tried to assist the other officers, grabbing Holmes by his shoulder.
"As I approached the subject, extending my right arm to grab him, he turned and attempted to bite me," Patient wrote. "I moved my hand, at which time his teeth grazed my right hand."
The officer noticed that she had received a half-inch long laceration on the top of her hand. She snapped a digital photo of her injury to be used as evidence.
Holmes, who complained of a shoulder injury, was transported to St. Mary's Hospital, where he was examined by a physician. Patient was treated for her bite wound.
At the hospital, Holmes continued to be combative and was put into restraints. He then allegedly spat into the face of a hospital security officer, which led to the second count of aggravated battery.
Holmes is due to appear in circuit court for a preliminary hearing Nov. 9.
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Copyright 2011 - Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
