Thursday night’s rash of shootings in Elkhart forced county to step in the line of danger within city limits.
Elkhart County deputies responding to a suspicious person on a stage that was being setup for the Jazz Festival got more than they bargained for.
23-year-old Casey Eastman was spotted walking along the road and appearing highly intoxicated. Eastman refused a ride from officers, then started acting disruptive. When officers tried to take him into custody, he allegedly tried to grab one of the officer’s weapons, hit an officer in the head, then tried to take the other officer’s weapon.
Both Eastman and the officer were treated at Elkhart General Hospital.
Eastman is facing the following charges:
- Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer, Level 3 Felony
- Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer, Level 5 Felony
- Battery on an Officer causing bodily injury, Level 4 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement causing injury, Level 6 Felony
- Disorderly conduct, Class B Misdemeanor
If convicted on all charges, he faces about 37 years in prison.