Crockett Man Arrested for Assaulting Public Servant

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – What started out as a simple drunk and disorderly call quickly escalated which resulted in a Crockett man being arrested for two third degree felonies.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Houston County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Detric Murray responded to a dispatch in reference to a disturbance in the 1000 block of Monroe St at approximately 10:20 on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

When he arrived at the scene, the deputy was met by the complainants who informed him their son was “… being belligerent towards them and outside screaming and hollering.”

Murray observed the suspect, identified as 55-year-old Louis Baptist, standing on the front porch. Baptist then walked down the driveway where he spoke with the HCSO deputy.

“Defendant appeared to be highly intoxicated and had slurred speech. I (Murray) could not understand clearly what he was saying. I could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath/person. His eyes were watery and red, he was swaying and could not stand on his own,” the affidavit reported.

Once Murray spoke with the complainants and after Baptist became aggressive towards the deputy, he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, both Class C misdemeanors.

He was transported to the Houston County Jail, but once there, Baptist’s bad behavior continued.

“Inside of the jail, the defendant failed to cooperate with commands from deputies and jailers. While placing the defendant in a restraint chair, the defendant bit (a jailer) on the inner part of his wrist causing moderate pain, but did not break the skin,” the legal document stated.

Baptist also assaulted another law enforcement officer by hurting his hand and “… refused to let go. Defendant was drive stunned with the Taser device until he cooperated and gave up,” the police report stated.

Because of this, Baptist was charged with two additional counts of assaulting a public servant, a third degree felony.

According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Baptist remains held on bonds totaling $20,000 and fines of $300.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].