Man charged after fighting police
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on June 16, 2016 1:46 PM
A Siler City man was charged with three counts of injury to personal property Tuesday for bleeding on an officer's unfiorm during a fight and kicking out the windows of two police cars.
The incident occured when Jonathan Johan Herrera-Mejia, 31, of Siler City, was being taken to the Wayne County Jail for being drunk in public.
"He was publicly intoxicated and couldn't care for himself, so they were taking him into custody so he could sleep and sober up, and they could release him in the morning," Maj. Anthony Carmon of the Goldsboro Police Department said.
Herrera-Mejia allegedly kicked out the left rear window of the patrol car he was in while the car was moving down 300 block of North William Street.
Herrera-Mejia then allegedly climbed out of the window, which caused him to suffer several cuts along his body.
He then allegedly began fighting with the officer taking him to jail, and then several other officers were called to the scene to help control Herrera-Mejia.
During the scuffle Herrera-Mejia allegedly attempted to bite one officer and bled on the pants of another before he was gotten under control and placed in a second patrol car.
After being put in the second patrol car, Herrera-Mejia allegedly kicked out the left rear window of the second patrol car before successfully being taken to jail.
A third car was not called to take Herrera-Mejia to jail.
Carmon said the property damage charges not only stem from the damaged windows valued at $350 and $300, but also from Herrera-Mejia bleeding on an officer's pants during the fight.
Carmon said charging Herrara-Mejia with bleeding on the uniform was a "good charge," and a charge of injury to personal property can include anything from blood on a uniform to torn pockets on a uniform or blood being left in a patrol car.
"I know I would and have (charged someone with that)," Carmon said. "I can't speak for the typical officer, but that's a charge I have put on suspects before."
Herrera-Mejia was also charged with assault on a government official and three counts of resisting a public official. He was placed in the Wayne County Jail under a $8,000 secured bond.