May 18--SOUTH BEND -- Two young men have been charged in connection with an assault on a Mishawaka police officer.
St. Joseph County prosecutors filed charges Thursday against Kenneth W. Kunkel and Andrew D. Swank stemming from an alleged attack Tuesday night on officer Bryan Fox.
Kunkel, 19, of Danville, Ind., was charged with felony counts of battery with a deadly weapon, battery to a law enforcement officer, and misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and carrying a handgun without a license.
Swank, 19, of Granger, was hit with misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement and carrying a handgun without a license, as well as a felony count of felon in possession of a handgun.
Swank was convicted of felony auto theft last year in Marshall County.
Fox, who was on bike patrol, stopped a group of teens around Main and Sixth streets Tuesday night on a report that they were smoking marijuana and looking into garages and vehicles.
As the officer searched Swank's backpack, Swank ran, fell down, then got up and continued to flee with another officer in pursuit.
Kunkel also tried to run. Fox grabbed him and a fight broke out with Kunkel allegedly hitting the officer with a closed fist.
Two other officers subdued Kunkel and found a gun lying on the ground.
A second gun -- a silver .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun -- was also found near where Swank had fallen down.
After a K-9 unit tracked Swank down, a juvenile with the group described the gun Swank was seen carrying as a ".380, silver or chrome," the affidavit stated.
Bond for Kunkel was set at $50,000 corporate surety or $5,000 cash.
Bond for Swank was set at $20,000 corporate surety or $2,000 cash.
Both are being held at St. Joseph County Jail, and are scheduled to be arraigned today in St. Joseph Superior Court.
Staff writer Jeff Harrell:
574-235-6368
Copyright 2012 - South Bend Tribune, Ind.
