COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies arrested a man accused of battering an acquaintance at a Bartholomew County residence and later striking a sheriff deputy who stopped the suspect’s vehicle in Columbus.
Deputies were sent to the 12000 block of County Road 425E at 6:28 p.m. Tuesday on an alleged domestic battery complaint, said Sgt. Dane Duke, sheriff department spokesman.
Hope Police Department assisted with the initial investigation of the domestic complaint.
Hope investigators said the suspect, Bradley Bates, 29, of 2532 Indiana Ave., had battered a male subject at the residence and the male subject sustained injuries to his face.
Upon arriving in the area, deputies were advised that Bates had left the area in a silver Honda passenger car. Deputy Tyler Cooper located the suspect vehicle and initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Poshard Drive in Columbus.
Cooper attempted to investigate the original complaint of the domestic battery where Bradley refused to cooperate with the investigation, Duke said. Bradley refused to exit the vehicle and Cooper assisted him out of the vehicle, Duke said.
When Bradley exited the vehicle he became combative and physically struck Cooper multiple times in the head, Duke said. Cooper was able to separate himself from Bradley where he was able to deploy his Taser.
Due to the physical altercation, Cooper was unable to use his radio to call for assistance. A sheriff’s office intern who was riding along with Cooper used the in-car radio to call for help, Duke said.
Assisting deputies arrived on scene and assisted in taking Bradley into custody. Bradley was medically cleared from Columbus Regional Hospital and was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail on the preliminary charges of: Battery on a law enforcement officer (Level 5 felony), resisting law enforcement (Level 6 felony) and domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor).
Cooper was transported to CRH where he received medical treatment from the physical altercation. Cooper sustained a concussion as a result of this incident.
“First off, I am glad that Deputy Cooper only suffered minor injuries,” said Sheriff Chris Lane. “This situation could have been much worse and I am proud that my deputy relied on his training and experience to handle the situation.”
Lane also said, “I am also glad that the intern was there to assist by calling for help on the radio.”
