Perry County deputy injured while trying to apprehend woman

A Perry County deputy broke her hand trying to take into custody a woman she believed to be in mental distress.

Melissa M. Sharp, 37, of Perryville, Missouri, was arrested Sunday and charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said deputy Amber Crites suffered a spiral crack in one bone in her right hand. Crites had a doctor’s appointment Wednesday to assess the extent of the injury and how much time she would need to be off work. Schaaf said Crites may be able to come back to work on light duty before her hand is completely healed.

Sharp called the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Department stating she had been abducted by two men and they had dropped her off at Timber Ridge Church on Route J, according to a probable-cause affidavit written by Crites. Crites responded, meeting the woman at the roadside near 8450 Route J and asking if she was OK. Sharp said she had been abducted by two men, one a pastor, and they had shown her pictures of dead animals, which she took as a threat, Crites wrote. Crites decided, based on what was said, that Sharp needed to be placed in protective custody because she needed help, according to the affidavit.

“As I advised her I was going to take her into custody, she began to pull away from me stating I am not going with you because I don’t see diamonds around you,” Crites said of what Sharp said.

Schaaf did not say specifically that Sharp suffered from any type of mental illness but when asked said, “We do deal with people with mental health problems.”

Schaaf said Crites attended Crisis Intervention Team training in Cape Girardeau in February, which detailed ways to interact with mentally ill people in law enforcement situations. Schaaf said Crites followed that training.

Crites gave Sharp several verbal commands and then they became entangled, and that’s when Crites’ hand was broken, according to the affidavit. While Crites and Sharp were struggling, a female passerby offered help, explaining to Sharp she was ex-military and Sharp needed to stop. Crites transported Sharp to Perry County Memorial Hospital where Crites’ injuries were treated. Any injuries to Sharp were not noted in the affidavit.

“I do appreciate those people that stopped and helped her,” Schaaf said.

Sharp was on probation for domestic assault, Crites wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

8450 Route J., Perryville, Mo.