EVANSVILLE — Prosecutors filed five felony charges Monday against an Evansville man accused of biting a sheriff’s deputy following a domestic disturbance in which he allegedly struck a young girl and knocked a man unconscious.
The man, identified in booking records as 43-year-old Christopher Patrick Andrew, is being held at the Vanderburgh County Jail without bond pending his first appearance in Circuit Court. As of Monday, it was not immediately clear if Andrew had retained an attorney.
Andrew’s arrest came after an 11-year-old girl called 911 Saturday evening to report that he had struck her and an adult male at a residence in the 1500 block of W. Missouri Ave. According to a Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office news release, Andrew had fled by the time officers arrived and was found by a deputy in a nearby alley.
“Andrew violently resisted by repeatedly striking the deputy, biting him on the forearm and sustaining the bite for several seconds,” the release states. “Andrew ripped the deputy’s portable radio away and then threw it back at him.”
The deputy, who reportedly sustained scratches and what the VCSO described as a “deep bite wound,” ultimately subdued Andrew with help from a city police officer.
According to investigators, prior to law enforcement’s arrival Andrew allegedly struck the 11-year-old in the face and hit an adult male hard enough to bloody his nose — assaults two additional juveniles reportedly witnessed.
Andrew is also alleged to have attacked the girl’s father, striking him from behind without warning and briefly knocking him unconscious. Ambulance personnel evaluated the father at the scene.
Andrew was medically cleared at Deaconess Midtown Hospital before being booked into the jail. In his booking photo, Andrew appears to have suffered a black eye, a bruise to his left cheek and lacerations on his face and forehead. The release does not say whether the injuries were inflicted by law enforcement nor does it describe the level of force used by the deputy and officer during Andrew’s arrest.
“Our deputy is going to be okay, and I am grateful the other victims of these senseless attacks are as well,” Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson said in a statement. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Evansville Police Department for their rapid response and professionalism. This office will stand fully behind Prosecutor Diana Moers as justice is pursued in this case.”
Prosecutors on Monday charged Andrew with three Level 5 felonies: battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery causing bodily injury to a public safety officer and resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury. He also faces Level 6 felony charges of battery on a person under 14 and domestic battery in the presence of a child under 16.
Andrew was scheduled to make his initial appearance in court Thursday afternoon.
Houston may be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville man accused of biting deputy, attacking child and father
Reporting by Houston Harwood, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
