The Associated Press
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- A man being arrested for possessing an open can of beer in public Monday grabbed the police officer’s flashlight and beat him, putting the officer in the hospital, official said.
Officer Shawn Thompson, 22, who fired a shot but missed during the struggle, was in stable condition at Baptist Hospital with facial and head injuries, police said.
The suspect, Terry Denard Smith, 45, of Pensacola, was in the Escambia County Jail charged with attempted murder, resisting arrest with violence, depriving an officer of means of protection or communication and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container.
The officer had chased the suspect on foot and tackled him at 12:10 a.m. Police said Smith pulled Thompson’s radio from him and grabbed the flashlight from the officer’s hand when he started hitting the suspect with it.
When Thompson reached for his gun Smith grabbed the barrel and lifted it above his head as the officer fired, police said.
Investigators said Smith told them he ran because he was on probation. Jail policy prohibits inmates from being interviewed and records there did not indicate whether Smith had a lawyer.
Escambia County court records show Smith pleaded no contest to driving with a revoked license. He was sentenced to a year in jail and 18 months on probation.