El Dorado man accused of assaulting deputies while jailed
EL DORADO — A man accused of assaulting law enforcement officials inside the jail cell was one of three men who made their first court appearances on Friday. His charges were based on evidence provided from the El Dorado Police Department with 35th District Court Judge Jack Barker presiding.
In court, Ray D. Johnson, 28, of El Dorado, held his handcuffed hands behind his waist as he faced his mother, who stood in the jury box. A sheriff’s deputy finished telling her that Johnson had an altercation “not with one, but three officers” in the jail, he said.
His mother started shaking her head, knowing there would be additional charges tacked on. He will face those charges in court on Monday.
“See the pain you’re causing her — you’re making it deeper, making it worse,” the deputy said.
Johnson was arrested Wednesday and charged
with aggravated assault, terroristic threatening, and filing a false police report: claiming a man threatened him at gunpoint. According to El Dorado police, Tuesday, around 11 p.m., officers responded to the 500 block of Stuart Avenue and talked with Johnson who told them a man allegedly pointed a handgun; Johnson told the suspect: “I’m not afraid to die; People get killed everyday.”
Shortly after, officers found the suspect that Johnson described; however after arresting the suspect and collecting other witness accounts, officers released the suspect — they had the wrong man.
According to witness accounts from the report, they saw a man drive up to Johnson — who was “play fighting” with a girl in the front yard — told him to stop, and they began arguing; but no accounts confirmed a gun was involved.
Police noted in their report that no pistol was recovered.
In court, four sheriff’s deputies supervised as Judge Barker, Detective Tammie Goodwin and Prosecutor Greg Thomas followed first appearance proceedings.
The court found sufficient facts and evidence to set Johnson’s bond at $25,000, cash only.
“This is based on pending charges your honor,” Thomas said. “There was an incident in the jail cell, he’ll face those charges on Monday.”
He has an extensive and lengthy history dating back to 2007 for similar run-ins with law enforcement, Barker said.
Johnson didn’t agree with the court’s bond.
“How does what I did in the jail affect those charges?” he said.
Barker affirmed: “It’s a fair indicator on how you’ll react if you’re released.”
After his court appearance, a sheriff’s deputy escorted Johnson out of the courtroom with a hand on his shoulder, followed by five court witnesses, presumably family or friends.