Video of the incident posted on social media shows an officer grabbing the door of the woman as she leaves her car, causing her to fall backwards onto the pavement.
BEAUMONT, Texas — Bail has been set for two Beaumont women arrested in connection with a disturbance that seriously injured a police officer at a Beaumont bar early Friday morning.
The officer suffered a severe head injury after attempting to restrain Jameisha Butler, 28, during a disturbance at Little Woodrows, according to a Beaumont Police Department news release.
Magistrate Ben Collins set Butler’s bail at $250,000 on the charge of assault with serious bodily injury to a peace officer, $30,000 on the charge of evading arrest with serious bodily injury and $2,500 on the charge of fleeing.
By noon Friday, the officer was taken to a Houston hospital where he remained in serious but stable condition, Beaumont police said.
Police said the disturbance occurred around 1:40 a.m. in the parking lot of the bar at 6210 Phelan Blvd. Officers were dispatched to the scene after receiving a report of a disturbance.
During the crash, Butler fled the scene in his car, and officers chased the vehicle, which was a convertible with the top down.
12News spoke with Ashley Johnson, Regional Finance branch manager, located a few doors down from Little Woodrows. Johnson said he was concerned about the incident, especially the fact that there was only one police officer at the scene.
“I think it was extremely dangerous for something like that to happen and we were the only police officer out here. The car sped up and that was it,” Johnson said. “That’s why I’m a little worried.”
Johnson said there have been recurring problems within the facility. She blames the problem on the bar’s young crowd.
“There’s something going on there every few months, and I think it’s because the audience is growing,” she said.
Johnson hopes the West Park property owner, Albanese Cormier Holdings, will address the safety concerns.
“Maybe having multiple security is not enough; you probably need to implement more rules,” she says.
She told 12News she feels unsafe heading to her car after work.
12News reached out to West Park property owner Albanese Cormier Holdings to discuss the safety concerns, but has not yet received a response.
Video of the incident posted on social media shows the woman walking away from the car and the officer grabbing the door as she tries to jump into the car, causing the man to fall backwards onto the pavement. As the car sped away, the officer could be seen lying motionless on the ground.
Video shows bystanders running up to check on him.
Another video posted on social media details a different perspective of what happened before the officer fell and was shot.
The video shows officers handcuffing Melissa Bell, 22, of Beaumont, who was also arrested early Friday morning, while Butler stands near the patrol unit.
JP Collins set Bell’s bail at $150,000 on the charge of serious assault on a peace officer, $2,500 on the resisting arrest charge and $1,500 on the obstruction of official business charge.
Butler was scheduled to be arrested “for disturbance due to intoxication,” according to a probable cause affidavit in the case.
Officers place a handcuffed Bell in the back seat of the patrol unit, and Butler can be seen walking quickly to her car. The officer ran up to the car and appeared to attempt to jump into the car before falling to the ground as Butler. I drive away.
Police have not identified the officer, who was taken by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital for treatment. Police said the man suffered serious head injuries and remains hospitalized.
According to the affidavit, when police attempted to arrest Butler at her home shortly after the incident, she fled from police before being arrested.
“She is believed to have been intoxicated to the point of loss of normal mental and physical capacity,” police said in the affidavit.
She was also “extremely violent and hostile towards both police officers and prison staff” and was unable to perform a field sobriety test and later had a blood sample taken at the prison.
Butler is charged with intoxication assault and evading custody, both of which police say are enhancements for causing serious bodily injury to a peace officer.
The other woman arrested, Bell, faces multiple charges including public intoxication, resisting arrest, obstructing official business and assaulting a peace officer. Her sins are not strengthened.
She also had outstanding warrants at the time of her arrest.
If bond is set, he will be required to remain in Jefferson County and wear an ankle monitor.
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