Officer assaulted during traffic stop

A Cape Girardeau police officer was assaulted during a traffic stop early Saturday morning.

Olie L. Welch, 23, of Cape Girardeau, was apprehended about 3:45 a.m., and Officer Justin Adrian, after running a license check, discovered that Welch had outstanding arrest warrants in Scott County for insufficient funds, failure to maintain proof of insurance and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was also wanted on parole absconder.

When Adrian asked Welch to step out of the vehicle, Welch told him he "was leaving," said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the police department.

When the subject tried to run, Adrian attempted to pursue him on foot, and a fight ensued, during which Adrian was struck several times in the head, Hovis said.

Welch was charged with felony assault of a law enforcement officer. Bond was set at $25,000.00.

He faces up to seven years incarceration if convicted.

No assaults on a law enforcement officer were reported in January. In 2007, there were 18 in Cape Girardeau, but only four resulted in injury. In Jackson, there were five incidents reported where a law enforcement officer was assaulted, and no injuries were reported.