Video: La. Sheriff's Deputy Knocked Out in SUV Rooftop Fight, Fall

By Michelle Hunter

Source The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Three adults and four juveniles from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were arrested on charges ranging from battery to interfering with police after authorities say a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy was knocked off the roof of a sport utility vehicle during a scuffle in Harvey Tuesday morning.

Michael David Range, 39, was booked with second-degree battery, flight from an officer, resisting police by violence, aggravated obstruction of a highway, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and possession of marijuana, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson.

Brianna Range, 20, and Jonathan Range, 18, were booked with resisting arrest, interfering with police officers and aggravated obstruction of a highway. Authorities did not say how the two are related to Michael Range, though Brianna Range called him her father in a Facebook Live video recorded during the encounter.

The juveniles arrested were four boys: two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old, Rivarde said. The Sheriff's Office did not say if or how the boys are related to the adults.

It is Michael Range who is seen in the Facebook Live video arguing with deputies and refusing to come down from the roof of a Lincoln Navigator parked at a Shell station at the intersection of Manhattan Boulevard and the West Bank Expressway in Harvey.

When an unnamed sergeant climbed onto the SUV to arrest Range, Range grabbed and lifted the sergeant's leg, pushing him backward and off of the vehicle, the Sheriff's office said in an arrest report.

In the fall, the sergeant's head hit a tree root, knocking him unconscious for several moments. He was taken to University Medical Center in stable condition.

The Sheriff's Office received a report around 10 a.m. of children darting in an out of traffic at the intersection, performing music with a speaker and microphone and flagging down vehicles to ask for money, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office had received a similar complaint Monday, but the people were gone by the time deputies arrived, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said.

Deputies on Tuesday asked Michael Range to get the children out of the roadway for their safety, but he refused, an arrest report said. He also allegedly refused to continue speaking with deputies and walked toward his SUV, telling them if they touched him, he'd fight back, according to authorities.

When a deputy grabbed for Michael Range's arm, Range pulled away, got into his SUV and went out the opposite door before climbing onto the roof, according to the Sheriff's Office. After falling to the ground with the injured sergeant, Michael Range allegedly punched and kicked at other deputies who were trying to take him into custody, the Sheriff's Office said.

The 15-year-old boy is accused of hitting the injured deputy while he was still on the ground, Rivarde said. The 15-year-old was booked with battery of a police officer, interfering with police and resisting an officer.

One of the 16-year-olds was booked with battery of a police officer with injury, resisting an officer and interfering with police, Rivarde said. The other 16-year-old and the 13-year-old were booked with interfering with police. The youngest boy was also booked with resisting arrest.

All four juveniles were taken to the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Assessment Center in Harvey. No other information was available.

Michael, Jonathan and Brianna Range were being held Wednesday evening at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. Bond for Michael Range was set at $21,500 while Brianna and Jonathan Range were being held on $6,000 bond.

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