By Jim Sterne
News Editor
Officers Kenneth Herrera and Anthony Lopez were on routine patrol in District 23 when they heard muffled screams of a woman in distress. It was Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 2:05 a.m. The screams got louder as they approached a parking lot in the 3100 block of N. Broadway.
Herrara and Lopez saw Jermel A. Clark, 30, of the 1100 block of W. 18th St., on his knees straddling and beating a 26-year-old woman who was on the ground. Clark saw the police coming and ran. The police called for assistance and ran after Clark, cornering him in a courtyard building in the 600 block of W. Wellington Ave.
According to police spokesperson Robin Mohr, the offender aggressively resisted both police officers. Two more police officers arrived at the scene and Clark was taken into custody. Herrera sustained an injury to his left elbow and lacerations to his left thumb. Lopez got a bruised knee and hip. The assisting officers complained of back pain from the scuffle.
Clark got arrested on one count of battery, four counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, and four counts of resisting arrest.
The victim told police that she had no prior contact with the offender until he grabbed her in the parking lot. The offender dragged the victim behind a car and pushed her to the ground. He beat her and choked her as she tried to scream for help. The victim could give no reason why the offender attacked her. |
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