DeWitt Twp. police officer suffers broken bones during arrest

DEWITT TWP. - A DeWitt Township police officer suffered serious facial injuries when a man he was trying to arrest assaulted him on Thursday afternoon, police said.

The officer, a one-year member of the force, suffered four broken bones in his face, DeWitt Township Police Chief Brian Russell said. The officer was treated at a local hospital and released.

"He's out (of the hospital) now," Russell said. "He's stable and he's doing good, but he's going to be off work for awhile, obviously."

The incident happened about 2:30 p.m. after the officer responded to a call about a subject who was harassing customers at a gas station in the area of Business U.S. 127 and State Road, Russell said.

The officer located the suspect, determined he had an outstanding warrant and was moving to arrest him when the man suddenly hit him in the face, knocking him to the ground, Russell said.

The officer was dazed by the attack but managed to discharge his Taser as the suspect came after him a second time, he said.

The suspect was immobilized by the Taser, and other officers from DeWitt Township, Bath Township and the Clinton County Sheriff's Office quickly responded, and the man was taken into custody, Russell said.

The suspect is about 40 years old, Russell said. He was taken to a hospital and then to the Clinton County Jail. He faces two felony charges in connection with the incident, Russell said. Court offices were closed Friday evening.

Police have not released his name or the name of the officer.

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.