Police said that a guy from Missouri who had recently been released from jail “savagely beat” a police officer after using the boy, age 11, as a “human shield.”
It took place at a trailer park in Moscow Mills, which is roughly 50 miles northwest of St. Louis, on Thursday night at 10:30 p.m. According to a probable cause arrest complaint, Jeffrey Price’s mother called the police to report that her son was “not acting right.”
An hour earlier, according to reports, Price, 34, was knocking on the door of an unidentified trailer, believing his ex-wife was inside, prompting police to rush to the park.
When an officer responded to the most recent complaint, the locals directed her to Price’s location, where she discovered him standing in front of a different trailer. Despite not living there, he fled after she yelled at him, according to the authorities. After entering the house, the officer reportedly witnessed him grabbing a girl by the neck and utilizing her as a “human shield.”
“Price then placed his right hand up against the victim’s neck, mimicking that he had a gun or other weapon,” the affidavit said.
Police noted that the girl had a “terrified expression on her face.” Price allegedly lunged at the officer while still holding the victim. The girl who ran outdoors was set free by the policeman. The affidavit stated that he then started to “savagely beat” the officer in the head with clenched hands. Police reported that as the two were still fighting, Price blocked the door. The policewoman told him she didn’t want to hurt him in an attempt to defuse the situation. He allegedly replied, “I’m an assassin,” in response.
According to the affidavit, two Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies entered the house and wrestled Price to the ground. The affidavit states that they tased him before managing to get him into handcuffs. According to police, one of the deputies broke two fingers, and the officer had swelling in his brain. The affidavit states that methamphetamine was discovered in a little plastic baggie discovered by the officers.
Price is being charged with numerous offenses, including two counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault, and one act of resisting arrest. According to police, he was placed on parole after being freed from jail around a week earlier for theft and third-degree domestic abuse.