Tribune staff reports
A man fighting others inside a home on Seymour’s east side has been arrested after he threatened to kill one of the officers trying to arrest him, police report.
Tanner Payton, 21, of Seymour, faces three counts of intimidation on a law officer, battery against a law officer and battery by bodily waste against a law officer. The charges are all Level 6 felonies. He also faces a Class B misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
The incident that led to Payton’s arrest occurred early Tuesday when city police were sent to investigate a report of a man fighting other people inside a home in the 400 block of Mutton Creek Drive. Mutton Creek Drive is outside the city limits, but the sheriff’s department did not have any officers available when dispatchers received the call at 3:09 a.m.
Officers Jacob Florine and Jeremy Soliday, who were the first officers to arrive, reported finding Payton to be “heavily” intoxicated. He also was agitated, berating and calling officers obscenities and refused to quiet down and relax, police said.
That’s when the decision was made to put Payton in handcuffs, police said.
Police said he remained uncooperative and was forced to the ground. Once he was cuffed and back on his feet, Payton continued to threaten and berate officers with obscenities, police said.
He also threatened to kill one of the officers and his wife and kids, police said.
During the investigation, police said they were told Payton had struck a man as he attempted to calm him before police arrived. The homeowners asked police to take Payton away before he hurt anyone else, police said.
As Florine completed his investigation, Payton stood outside the residence and yelled, threatened officers and spit on Officer Mathew Carver, who was guarding him, police said.
As officers attempted to assist Payton into a vehicle, he started kicking, intentionally striking Florine in the leg.
Officers took control of Payton’s feet and again attempted to seat him in the transport vehicle. Officers were forced to physically place Payton in the vehicle as he continued to resist.
Payton was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 4:49 a.m. Tuesday and posted a $1,505 bond at 10:59 a.m. Thursday. A trial date was not set during his initial hearing Thursday in Jackson Circuit Court, but a pre-trial hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. March 7.
Officer Derrick Shelley also assisted with the investigation and the arrest of Payton, who was not injured during the incident.
Florine sustained bruising of the thigh as a result of Payton’s actions.