NewsSeptember 9, 2002

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Ripley County deputy was injured Friday night during a routine traffic stop that ended with a Doniphan man facing multiple felonies. Deputy Calvin Simmons was released from Ripley County Memorial Hospital after he received 12 stitches to re-attach a fingertip on his right hand, said Ripley County Sheriff Mike Cochran...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Ripley County deputy was injured Friday night during a routine traffic stop that ended with a Doniphan man facing multiple felonies.

Deputy Calvin Simmons was released from Ripley County Memorial Hospital after he received 12 stitches to re-attach a fingertip on his right hand, said Ripley County Sheriff Mike Cochran.

Simmons' alleged attacker was Mark D. Panagos, 33.

Panagos was charged with first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, two counts of armed criminal action, possession of methamphetamine and resisting arrest Saturday by Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Miller.

Panagos' bond was set at $500,000. He remains in the Doniphan City Jail.

Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!

According to Cochran, two of his deputies stopped Panagos' Jeep in west Doniphan at about 10 p.m. Friday because of a license plate violation.

Cochran said they also had background information to be watching for Panagos, but the license plate was the probable cause for the stop.

Deputies asked Panagos to get out of the vehicle and take his hands out of his pockets.

Panagos then "swung a broken glass instrument at deputy Simmons' head," Cochran said. "Simmons raised his hands to defend his face and sustained cuts to three fingers."

Simmons was allegedly cut with a glass instrument that was about six inches in length, Cochran said. "We don't know what it is," he said. "It's a rounded glass vial thing with cloth over it."

A warrant for probation violation is expected to be issued today, said Cochran, who didn't know what Panagos was on probation for.

Story Tags

Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:

For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.

Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!