MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

Officer Dragging Case Heads to Sentencing

By Greg Bebermeyer

07/05/2012

A St. Joseph, Missouri man convicted of dragging an Elwood police officer through a motel parking lot last November as he fled is to be sentenced July 18th.
27-year-old Derek Briggs pleaded no contest last week in Doniphan County District Court to three felony counts—including aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer.
As part of a plea agreement, four other charges against Briggs were dismissed.
Authorities say Officer Neal Hontz confronted Briggs last November 29th in the parking lot of Motel Capri in connection with an investigation into the theft of a cellphone from a vehicle.
A physical altercation ensued, during which Briggs briefly took control of Hontz service revolver.
Hontz was able to regain control of his gun, but in the process was dragged across the parking lot by a car operated by Briggs.
Briggs fled across the Missouri River bridge into St. Joseph where he was later taken into custody by St. Joseph police on an unrelated charge.
Hontz was treated at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph for minor cuts and bruises and released.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.