Cushing woman charged with kicking police officer
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Cushing woman who was charged with kicking a police officer after being arrested for public intoxication was released from the Payne County Jail Friday on $5,000 bond.
Melissa Baker, 45, was ordered to return to court on May 7 when she can ask for a preliminary hearing on her felony charge of assault and battery on a police officer.
Cushing Police Officer Rachel Hentges was sent at 7:40 p.m. April 2 to the 1500 block of E. Main Street about “an individual who was walking in and out of traffic and displaying vulgar hand gestures toward passing motorists,” according to her affidavit.
The individual, later identified as Baker, was located at a car wash at 1509 E. Main Street, the affidavit said.
“As I approached Baker, she dropped a cell phone. Baker bent over to pick up the cell phone and then dropped it again several seconds later,” the officer wrote in her affidavit.
Baker had a lack of coordination and balance, along with smelling of alcohol, and admitted she had been drinking, the affidavit alleged.
“She stated she had about half of a fifth of a bottle of alcohol approximately four hours earlier,” the affidavit alleged.
After Baker was arrested for public intoxication, she became belligerent and combative during the booking process, the affidavit alleged.
“Baker looked at me, stated, ‘F… you, b….’ and lunged toward me. Baker was still restrained by handcuffs at this time,” the officer wrote in her affidavit.
“Baker was pushed up against the book-in counter. As Baker was being held against the counter, she kicked her right leg out toward me and struck me in the left shin.
“Baker kicked me a second time, as she was being restrained. The second kick struck me in the right thigh,” the officer wrote in her affidavit.
If convicted of assault and battery on a police officer, Baker could be given a five-year prison term and a $500 fine. If convicted of public intoxication, she could be given an additional 30 days in jail and a $100 fine.
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