A man is facing several felony charges after allegedly strangling a Kentucky State Police trooper.
Jeromy D. Clark, 35, of Crestwood, was pulled over by a trooper on Pendleton Road in Henry County for not wearing a seat, according to multiple media outlets. Clark fled the stop on foot, as the suspect ran into a wooded area behind a business.
The trooper, whose taser had no effect on the suspect, caught Clark and took him to the ground, with Clark wrapping his arms around the trooper’s neck, placing him in a choke hold and almost causing the trooper to lose consciousness. The trooper fought back, though, as he again took partial control of Clark even as the suspect continued to strike the trooper in the face with a radio.
As the trooper continued to struggle with Clark, two unidentified firefighters arrived at the scene and assisted the trooper in handcuffing Clark.
During a search of the area, police located a bag of methamphetamine in a jacket Clark had shed as he ran from police. Further investigation showed that Clark had an arrest warrant.
Clark was charged with third-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree strangulation, fleeing or evading police (on foot), resisting arrest, third-degree criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was initially lodged in the Oldham County Detention Center on a $30,000 cash bond but has since been transferred to the Carroll County Regional Jail.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com