Intervention call ends in struggle

A man threatening to commit suicide Tuesday ended up assaulting police officers and being arrested, police reports said.

North Little Rock officers responding to a call about a suicidal person on Regal Street met James McSorley, 45, who ran toward their vehicle and began asking to be arrested, according to a police report.

After asking McSorley to calm down and to talk with them, officers reported that the man became angry and attempted to assault them — at first trying to punch them when he was standing and later kicking them when they put him on the ground, the report said.

One of the officers said he “struck James 3-5 times on the ride side of his face with my right hand,” and reported McSorley had minor injuries on the left and right sides of his face.

Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services transported McSorley to Baptist Health Medical Center at SpringHill, but officers said he refused treatment.

The report said one of the officers suffered a minor injury on his right arm during the struggle.

McSorley was charged with third-degree battery, assault on a family member, resisting arrest and interference with emergency communications.

McSorley was transferred to the Pulaski County jail, but it was unclear if he was still in custody Tuesday evening.