Essex man charged with assaulting police officer

DEXTER, Mo. -- An Essex man is behind bars following a recent altercation with a Dexter police officer.

Christopher Taylor, 25, is charged with one count of felony second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer. He is also being held on outstanding warrants for failure to appear.

According to a probable-cause statement filed by Detective Lt. Trevor Pulley of the Dexter Police Department, the incident occurred Tuesday in the lobby of the police department.

Cpl. Rick Cook was assisting juvenile services when he told Taylor that he was under arrest for outstanding warrants from Stoddard County and Malden, Mo.

Taylor reportedly became upset that juvenile authorities were going to take his daughter and attempted to leave. When Cook tried to stop him, they began to fight and Cook attempted to wrestle Taylor to the floor, according to the statement.

Another police officer broke up the fight and Taylor was arrested.

Cook was transported by ambulance to a Cape Girardeau hospital with head and arm injuries. He has since been released from the hospital, but according to chief Sammy Stone, he was to visit an out-of-town specialist for a torn arm tendon Thursday. He has not yet been released to report back to work at the local department.

In an interview later that evening, Taylor reportedly admitted to resisting Cook and he was sorry for his actions and didn't mean to hurt Cook.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, Mo.