By: Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Stillwater man accused of assaulting a Perkins reserve police officer attempting to serve a Perkins city warrant has been jailed on $7,500 bail pending his arraignment this week on a felony charge in Payne County District Court.
If convicted of assault and battery on Perkins Police Reserve Officer William Bowen, Michael Justin Waugh, 40, could be given as much as a five-year prison term.
Waugh was arrested at 12:10 pm on June 6, according to an affidavit by Stillwater Police Officer Rachel Bruce, who responded to the Perkins officer’s request 19 minutes earlier for assistance at the suspect’s residence in the 1500 block of S. Perkins Road in Stillwater.
“As I pulled up to the location, I observed Officer Bowen on the second story porch of the residence. As I approached, I observed Bowen had his firearm out and pointed into the doorway of the residence. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, Bowen told me the individual had fled inside.
“There were several males across the street, who were pointing to the back of the residence. I informed Bowen the individuals indicated the subject had exited out a back window. I went to the rear of the residence and observed the screen, window and window casing from the second-story window was lying on the ground and the glass was broken.
“I advised Bowen the subject had fled out the window. He informed me he was serving a Perkins city warrant and the individual had assaulted him and resisted him when he attempted to place him under arrest,” the Stillwater officer alleged in her affidavit.
“Bowen reported he arrived to serve the warrant, knocked on the door and stated he was trying to find Michael Waugh. Bowen informed Waugh he had a warrant and was under arrest. Bowen reported Waugh then attempted to retreat inside the residence and close the door on him.
“Bowen stated Waugh closed the door on his leg, which was in the doorway. Bowen stated he and Waugh struggled over the door and he pulled his baton out in order to try to stop Waugh. When he did this, Waugh grabbed his baton and they began to struggle over it.
“Bowen stated he used his cell phone to call for assistance. When he did this, Waugh looked at him and then fled to the back of the apartment. Bowen said he remained at the front door until I arrived,” the Stillwater officer alleged in her affidavit.
“While I was speaking with Bowen, other Stillwater officers located Michael Waugh and took him into investigative detention,” at 16th and Alcott in Stillwater where he was arrested after being identified by Bowen as the person who assaulted him, the affidavit alleged.
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