Hot Springs man arrested for allegedly spitting on GC deputy, making threats
A Hot Springs man was arrested Monday after allegedly spitting on a Garland County sheriff’s deputy and making threatening comments.
Leif Eric McMurrin, 29, who lists a Crystal Hill Road address, was taken into custody around 7:30 p.m. Monday and charged with a felony count of aggravated assault upon a certified law enforcement officer, punishable by up to six years in prison.
McMurrin remained in custody Tuesday on $2,500 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Deputy Grant Yarborough and Cpl. Jon Lane responded to a single vehicle wreck on Blacksnake Road and made contact with McMurrin, who was on the ground outside of his truck.
When asked what his name was, McMurrin reportedly responded, “I don’t know my (expletive) name!”
Yarborough reportedly asked for his driver’s license and McMurrin said, “It’s in my back pocket you (expletive).”
Yarborough asked McMurrin to retrieve his wallet and he cursed and told him to get it. After the deputy retrieved the wallet, McMurrin allegedly became combative and stated, “I have AIDS and hepatitis C and I hope you get it.”
After placing McMurrin in restraints, Yarborough attempted to assist him out of the woods to the ambulance when McMurrin reportedly pulled away and fell to the ground.
The deputy turned McMurrin to his side when McMurrin reportedly spit in the deputy’s face and said, “I hope you get infected and my boys are gonna kill us all.”
Sgt. Jeremy Simpson retrieved a spit mask for McMurrin, who was taken by LifeNet to CHI St. Vincent’s Hot Springs. Upon release from the hospital, McMurrin was transported to the Garland County Detention Center.