PARAGOULD, Ark. – Authorities in Greene County are charging a woman with felonies after she is alleged to have injured two law enforcement officers during an incident Wednesday.
At approximately 11:20 PM on April 26, Greene County deputies responded to a 911 call on Hwy 135 North in reference to a female who appeared to be having a mental break down, a release from Sheriff Brad Snyder said. The caller stated that the female had unhooked the propane tank and was in the caller’s vehicle with the doors locked and blowing the horn.
Upon arrival on scene, deputies located Jessica Georgette Thacker, 44, of Paragould, in an SUV parked under the carport. The doors were locked, and the female had a knife that she was using to stab the steering wheel and air bag of the car. Deputies retrieved the keys from the owner and got the door open. One deputy grabbed Thacker’s hands while the other attempted to get the knife away from her. Both deputies were bitten during the incident and one of the deputies was stabbed in the thumb with the knife, according to the press release.
The female was taken into custody and transported to the Greene County Jail where she remained non-compliant. Once at the jail, she attempted to spit on and bite multiple officers. She managed to spit directly in the face of one of the booking officers at the jail.
Thacker appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident, the sheriff said in the release.
Both deputies that were bitten were treated and released from the emergency room, and were able to return to patrol duties at approximately 3:00 am this morning. Probable cause was established for Thacker on two counts of Battery 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) and three counts of Aggravated Assault Upon a Law Enforcement Officer or an Employee of a Correctional Facility. Thacker remains in custody at this time with a temporary bond of $50,000 cash or surety.
Adapted Press Release
That’s so sad for anyone to act like that.l pray for all of you because you put your life on the line to keep us safe and I pray for the ones that do things to you all and I will keep you all in my prayers because we need all of you and my heart goes out to you all.Victoria . GOD BLESS YOU ALL
I feel like the officers need to be trained in mental health!!! Had they approached her properly they would not have been injured!! They were told she was having a mental break down. That means mental health was the problem not someone who was trying to catch felonies for injuring an officer.
I agree with Misty. Its not a morally sound judgment to charge a mental illness situation as you would a sound mind of a criminal. Two very different situations but charged as they are the same. Where’s Steve Franks? Greene County needs him back!!