Judge convicts man of shooting at officer

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man was found guilty Thursday of first-degree assault for shooting at a Springfield police officer.

Tony Mann, 34, of Springfield, also was convicted of armed criminal action in the incident last October that led to a probe of police.

Mann appeared Aug. 19 for a bench trial before Judge Henry Westbrooke Jr. The judge took the charges under advisement, announcing the convictions on Thursday.

Mann was ordered to appear Nov. 22 for sentencing. He faces 10 years to life in prison.

Mann was convicted of shooting at officer David Shanholtzer on Oct. 4, 2001. Shanholtzer and another officer had gone to Mann's house to question him about a drug violation and a domestic-abuse allegation, authorities said.

Mann had holed up inside his home for several hours after firing a shot at Shanholtzer.

Once officers tried to handcuff Mann, he began to resist, authorities said. Officers were caught on a home video striking Mann several times in the neck area.

Officers were accused of using excessive force. They were later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Investigators agreed that the blows were part of a commonly used tactic to stun a neck nerve to relax a suspect's arm so he can be handcuffed.