(La Porte, IN) - A man is charged with badly hurting two La Porte Police Officers during a major struggle downtown this month.

 

According to police, officers about three weeks ago were called to the 900 block of Lincolnway on a report of a man later identified as Jerry Smith being drunk and screaming.

 

According to police, the 21 year old Smith after becoming very combative and forced one of the officers to the ground where he struck his face on a sidewalk.

 

The officer, bleeding profusely with a swollen shut right eye, left for medical treatment at the request of other officers trying to diffuse the situation.

 

Police said Smith, continuing to resist, slammed the hand of another officer into a curb, which caused one of the bones in the officer’s hand to break. Eventually, Smith was strapped to a stretcher and taken to the hospital where he allegedly continued to cause major disruption.

 

Smith is charged with battery and other counts in La Porte Circuit Court.