Man charged with felony battery after allegedly breaking PD officer’s finger
A reportedly homeless man was arrested on a felony battery charge after allegedly breaking a Hot Springs police officer’s finger while resisting arrest following a disturbance at a local bar.
Jason Edward Kitchens, 48, who lists “city streets” as his address, was taken into custody shortly after 6 p.m. in the 700 block of Central Avenue and charged with second-degree battery, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Kitchens remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of a $5,000 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 6 p.m., Hot Springs police Officer Matthew Maughan responded to Maxine’s Live, 700 Central Ave., regarding a disturbance.
He made contact with a white male, later identified as Kitchens, standing in front of Maxine’s, who was “cursing and yelling” as people were walking by him causing alarm.
Officers asked Kitchens for ID and he allegedly refused and continued to “yell profane language” and disturb the other people walking in the area so officers attempted to take him into custody.
Kitchens allegedly began to actively pull away and punched Officer Tyler Barrett in the face. Officers stepped away and drew their Tasers and Barrett gave Kitchens several commands to get on the ground, but he refused.
Barrett deployed his Taser on Kitchens, but was unsuccessful as he was able to pull one of the probe leads loose. At that point, Kitchens started to walk away from Barrett and then turned and threw his cellphone at him, striking him in the left hand, causing a break in his left pinkie finger.
At that time, Maughan and Barrett both ordered Kitchens to get on the ground, but he still allegedly refused. Maughan then deployed his Taser and was able to obtain full neuromuscular incapacitation.
Once on the ground, Kitchens was ordered to put his hands behind his back, but he was still refusing. Maughan initiated another cycle on his Taser and at that point Kitchens complied and was taken into custody.