Arrestee charged with assaulting an officer

A man being taken into custody on an outstanding warrant last week garnered additional charges after allegedly throwing a screwdriver at a deputy and resisting arrest.

Deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department report that they had gone to a Tandy Road home in Loretto to serve outstanding warrants after receiving a tip that the subject was at the residence.

Deputies report that they could see the man, identified as twenty-six year old Justin Gaines Judd, sleeping on a mattress. A deputy attempted to open the door, but reports he was unable to do so because a large amount of trash and debris was blocking it. The action roused Judd and the reporting officer reports that he responded by throwing a screwdriver at him, nearly striking him on the head.

The deputy reports that he unholstered his handgun, ordering Judd to show him his hands. He reports that Judd, instead, began to wield a second screwdriver. The deputy indicates that he then holstered his weapon and readied his taser, warning Judd that he would be tased, should he refuse to cooperate.

Reports show that Judd dropped the screwdriver and put his hands up, but that he continued to resist deputies’ efforts to place him under arrest. A struggle ensued briefly before Judd was handcuffed and transported to the Lawrence County Detention Center. Additional warrants were issued, charging him with the crimes of resisting arrest and aggravated assault of a police officer.

Deputies noted that once he was at the jail, Judd apologized for throwing the screwdriver, saying that he had been startled awake and disoriented.