Two St. Joe County Police officers were injured while serving a warrant at Castle Point Apartments.
It happened on Thursday, Aug. 29.
The officers were searching for Devin Myers, 22, who fled the apartment on foot.
He was wanted on numerous outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants including battery, firearms, theft and embezzlement. When the officers caught up to Myers, a struggle ensued—police say he managed to get a hold of a taser and a radio before he was cuffed.
They also say they found a gun on the ground after he was in custody near the scene of the scuffle.
One of the officers suffered a head injury and the other a shoulder injury
The St. Joseph County Police Department released the following udpated information:
Corporal Daniel Bodle and Corporal Kenny Welsh of the St. Joseph County Police Warrants Division were injured this afternoon while attempting to arrest Devin Myers, age 22 on outstanding felony warrants for the following: Possession of a Firearm by a Violent Felon, Level 5 Felony, Embezzlement, Level 6 Felony Domestic Battery in the presence of a child, Level 6 Felony, Conversion, Misdemeanor Class A, Theft, Level 6 Felony.
The incident began on Court of Royal Arms in Castle Point Apartments and ended in the Apartments off of Cleveland Road. As Myers left the apartment, he caught sight of Bodle and fled on foot. Myers ran through the parking lot and through one of the apartments, while the Bodle gave chase on foot. Corporal Kenny Welsh gave chase in his car around a pair of buildings and then left his car to chase on foot. Cpl. Welsh caught up to Myers and unsuccessfully attempted to use his taser before taking Myers to the ground.
Cpl. Bodle then caught up with Myers and Cpl. Welsh and attempted to assist subduing Myers. During the struggle Myers took possession of Welsh’s taser, and Bodle’s radio. The officers were unable to radio for additional help and asked the bystanders watching and videotaping to call 9-1-1 for help, one bystander used the officers’ radio to call for help. It took several minutes for the officers to get Myers handcuffed and stood upright. When the officers stood Myers up, a handgun was found on the ground where the struggle occurred. Additional officers and ambulances arrived shortly after Myers was restrained by Bodle and Welsh.
Following the arrest, Corporal Welsh was taken to Memorial Hospital Emergency Room to medical treatment for a head injury and dizziness, received a CAT scan and was released. Corporal Bodle was taken to occupational health for a shoulder injury and released. Myers was taken to Memorial Emergency Room for medical evaluation and released into police custody.
In addition to the outstanding felony warrants, Myers has a previous felony conviction. The handgun found after the struggle returned as stolen out of a car in South Bend last month. Myers was taken to ATF for further investigation and then was booked into the St. Joseph County Jail on the warrants and new charges of Resisting Law Enforcement, Battery to a Public Safety Official Resulting in Injury, Possession of a Firearm by a Violent Felon, Disarming a Law Enforcement Officer, Theft of a Firearm, and Possession of Handgun without a License.
St. Joseph County Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
