By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Stillwater man accused of kicking the front tire of a bicycle that forced an Oklahoma State University police officer to fall forward over the handlebars onto a sidewalk fracturing his collarbone has been jailed pending a Nov. 6 court appearance on a four-count charge.
If convicted of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, carrying concealed brass knuckles and possessing drug paraphernalia, Levi Cordell Hoffman, 29, could be incarcerated for seven years plus 30 days and fined $2,500, court records show.
OSU Police Officer Willam B. Patterson wrote in an affidavit, “I was patrolling eastbound on University Avenue, on my personal unmarked bicycle and in plain clothes, on Oct. 6 at about 2:29 am. I was assigned a plain clothes assignment with the task of attempting to locate individuals involved in multiple larcenies involving bicycle thefts, which are taking place on OSU campus.
“I observed a subject on a white bicycle riding southbound on Jefferson Street,” which resembled one recently reported stolen from the north side of OSU Morsani Hall, the officer wrote in his affidavit. “I then pulled up behind him and attempted to see if one of the stickers was an OSU permit.
“I caught up to the unknown white male on 4th Avenue between Jefferson Street and Monroe Street and asked him if the bicycle was his. The male stated, ‘Leave me alone.’ I pulled out my badge and identified myself as a police officer and commanded him to stop.
“The male became very nervous and quickly fled the area, making a quick U-turn, ramping off an elevated platform into the street and subsequently running into a black car. His feet slipped off the peddles. I continued to scream, ‘Police. Stop’ as he regained control of the bicycle and hurriedly peddled eastbound on 4th Avenue. I gave pursuit at a high rate of speed for bicycles.
“The male continued eastbound and threw a black basket off his bicycle. I was unsure if he was attempting to block my path or get rid of possible evidence,” while the pursuit continued, the officer alleged in his affidavit.
“I pulled right up next to him continuing to identify myself as a police officer and commanding him to stop. The suspect then began attempting to kick the front tire of my bicycle. The suspect eventually landed a kick to my front tire, causing the tire to turn sideways, and spilling me forward over the front of my handlebars and onto the sidewalk.
“I regained my feet and observed a white male pedestrian attempting to assist in stopping the suspect from hearing my commands of ‘Police. Stop.’ I ran towards the suspect and pedestrian. The suspect was on the ground, and I attempted to grab the suspect’s hands.
“At this time, I realized my right shoulder was injured and my right arm was not working properly. The pedestrian was now to my left and advising he was attempting to assist me. Officer Spears arrived at approximately this time and was able to assist me in getting the suspect handcuffed,” followed by three more officers’ arrival, Patterson alleged in his affidavit.
“While searching for weapons, Officer Spears located a silver ‘brass knuckles’ with ‘Zombie’ carved into the handle in his left pocket,” and put the suspect in the nearest patrol car, the affidavit alleged.
“I was requested to sit on the nearby steps to await the LifeNet ambulance to check on my shoulder. LifeNet arrived and informed me my collarbone was fractured. Lt. Hart then transported me to the Stillwater Medical Center ER for treatment. Sgt. Gordon searched (the suspect’s) backpack and located a yellow glass bong and a blue glass pipe with a black rubber mouthpiece containing trace amounts of a white crystallized substance,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
