Cape Girardeau man sentenced for struggle with police officer

A prison guard accused of punching a Cape Girardeau police officer pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday for resisting arrest. Tommy L. Tipler, 42, of 651 Napa Circle, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Benjaim Lewis to 14 days in jail and given credit for time served for misdemeanor resisting arrest. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped charges of felony assaulting a police officer and misdemeanor domestic assault and property damage. Cape Girardeau police officers responded to Tipler's home Dec. 9 to a domestic disturbance call between Tipler and his wife. After police separated the couple, Tipler lunged toward one of the officers and punched him in the jaw. A struggle between the officer and Tipler ensued, with another officer having to use pepper spray to subdue Tipler. When asked by the judge Monday, Tipler admitted to resisting arrest. "I wouldn't let him restrain me," he said. At the time of the attack, Tipler was a guard at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Mo. Following the charges against him, Tipler was placed on paid suspension. An update on his status with the Missouri Department of Corrections was not immediately available Monday night.