Police: Man Spat in Officer’s Face After Fleeing Paragould Fight Call

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould man was arrested after police said he fled from officers and spat in an officer’s face during a fight call early June 28.

Keanu Heine, 25, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, a Class D felony. He also faces misdemeanor counts of third-degree battery, terroristic threatening, fleeing and public intoxication.

According to a probable cause affidavit from the Paragould Police Department, officers responded at about 1:15 a.m. June 28 to a residence in the 1800 block of Reynolds Road for a report of a fight involving intoxicated subjects.

A man at the residence told officers a fight had taken place between him and Heine, saying it began after Heine disrespected him in his own home. The man said he made Heine go to the garage to defuse the situation.

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When officers went to the garage, they heard loud voices. Police said Heine was standing behind a woman with his arms wrapped around her stomach. When officers entered, Heine released the woman and ran out the back door, according to the affidavit.

Officers chased Heine on foot while giving commands for him to stop. He was caught on a neighboring street, taken to the ground and placed in restraints, police said.

While officers were helping Heine back to his feet, he allegedly threatened to kick officers in the face. Police said Heine then spat in an officer’s face while being escorted to a patrol unit. Officers took him to the ground again and ordered him not to spit. The affidavit states Heine tried to spit several more times but did not make contact with officers again.

When officers returned to the home, the man involved in the fight told police Heine was intoxicated and disrespectful before punching a woman in the face. Officers reported seeing a small bloody scratch on the woman’s nose, along with bruising and swelling. The woman told police Heine struck her in the face with a closed fist, according to the affidavit.

Bond was set at $10,000 cash only. Court records also listed a no-contact order, an ankle monitor requirement and a no-weapons provision.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.