TEXARKANA, Texas -- Two police officers were injured Tuesday while trying to apprehend a man resisting arrest.
Michael Hawkins, 30, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and resisting arrest, according to the Texarkana Texas Police Department. He was transported to the Bi-State jail, where his bond was set at a total of $405,000.
Officer Lauren Freeman's face was slammed into the concrete and Chastina Wilburn was struck with a tire iron, according to TTPD. They were both transported to CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital by LifeNet ambulance where they were treated for their injuries and released Tuesday night.
"While their injuries were serious, we are thankful that they will make a full recovery," said Shawn Vaughn, spokesman for TTPD.
Freeman and Wilburn were dispatched about 3:30 p.m. to a disturbance call in the 1400 block of College Drive after Hawkins allegedly got into an argument with his mother while she was driving down the road.
The officers made contact with Hawkins while he was sitting alone inside the vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The officers tried to talk to him, but he wasn't cooperating at all, Vaughn said.
They eventually asked Hawkins to get out of the truck, TTPD said, but he allegedly grabbed a tire iron that he had beside him and jumped into the back seat instead. After one of the officers used their JPX pepper gun, Hawkins allegedly threw the tire iron at them, striking Wilburn.
The officers were then able to get the back doors of the truck open and continued to order Hawkins to get out. Once he stepped out, he allegedly tried to reach back into the truck for something and they grabbed his arms to try to stop him. He allegedly started to fight with them.
After they were on the ground, Hawkins allegedly managed to grab Freeman by the hair and slam her face into the concrete. He allegedly continued to hold and pull her hair while they attempted to restrain him. A few moments later, Officer Dacota Taylor arrived on scene and helped the officers get Hawkins into handcuffs.