Man assaults Ferriday police officer in arrest

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 20, 2001

FERRIDAY, La. – A Ferriday police officer was assaulted Sunday night by a man he was arresting on a charge of disturbing the peace.

At about 7:45 p.m., officers Trevor McDonald and John Blunschi IV were called to on South Fifth Street, where Joseph Phillips, 45, of 313 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Ferriday, was allegedly arguing with a female friend. Officers warned Phillips to leave the premises, but Phillips only walked as far as the street before turning to yell profanity at the officers. &uot;He also threatened to kill the officers,&uot; said Police Chief Bobby Sheppard.

Phillips struggled as the officers tried to arrest him and place him in a patrol car, and he kicked the patrol car door so it could not be closed. Phillips was then removed from the patrol car. He allegedly kicked McDonald repeatedly in the legs and spat in his face.

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Officers took Phillips to the ground, causing a cut on Phillips’ face. Phillips was treated and released from Riverland Medical Center. McDonald did not require medical treatment. Phillips appeared to be intoxicated during the incident, but a breath test was not done, Sheppard said. Phillips was arrested on charges of battery of an officer, disturbing the peace, resisting an officer, threatening a public official and parole violation. As of Monday, he was being held at the Concordia Parish Jail without bond due to the parole violation.