BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested on Saturday, October 15th after Bedford Police Officers received a report of an unknown male at the caller’s apartment in the 2000 block of Stevens Lane.
When officers arrived they found the front door of the apartment open. Officers made known their presence and entered the open door where they found a woman and a juvenile.
Once entered, a woman told police, the juvenile’s mother had come to visit the juvenile along with an unknown male. The mother departed the apartment but the unknown male remained behind. The woman reported she told the male multiple times to leave but he only stared at the woman. She also stated she “lost sight of the male and did not know if he left the apartment or not”.
The fire alarm inside the apartment complex sounded while the police were questioning the woman but was soon deactivated with no sign of a fire.
Officers exited the apartment and located the unwanted male, 44-year-old David Johnson on the second floor. He was told not to return to the apartment and was warned that legal actions would be taken if he did.
Officers were in the process of speaking to a neighbor to gain information when Bedford Police Dispatch received a 911 call from another apartment tenant. The tenant reported a male was attempting to gain entry to her apartment.
Police located Johnson and detained him.
Johnson refused to comply with the officers’ commands and began to quickly make his way to the other side of the second floor. While he was fleeing, an officer noticed a glass smoking device containing a burnt residue. Johnson made his way to a fire extinguisher case and punched the glass, causing it to break into multiple shards. While digging in the extinguisher box the officers tackled him and took him to the ground. He released the items in his hand. Those items consisted of multiple used syringes and the glass smoking device.
While on the ground, officers gave Johnson multiple commands to quit resisting and to provide his hands. However, he refused to comply and continued to forcibly and powerfully pull his hands away from officers in an attempt to escape.
Officer eventually placed Johnson into handcuffs. While trying to escort Johnson out of the building, he kicked an officer in the chest, nearly causing the officer to fall down the stairs. While at the patrol vehicle, Johnson had to be forced into the back seat.
Once Johnson was secure, officers spoke with the tenant who reported Johnson was attempting to force his way into her apartment. She told police Johnson had knocked on her door and when she opened the door, Johnson said he needed to leave. She then attempted to close the door and Johnson attempted to stop her from doing so. She told police she was able to get the door closed, however, Johnson continued to attempt to force entry into the residence. While speaking with the tenant, officers located spots of blood near the deadbolt and peephole of the door.
While photographing the scene, officers located a fire alarm and multiple pieces of wiring that had been removed from the wall. This was located where Johnson was standing when officers first attempted to make contact with him. Also located in the same area was another uncapped syringe, the apartment number plaques of multiple apartments, and multiple door mats.
The property owner arrived on the scene and was advised of the damages caused by Johnson. The property owner filed criminal charges against Johnson for the damage.
While being transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing, Officers had to stop at the intersection of 16th Street and Brian Lane Way due to Johnson’s behavior. He was kicking the windows and attempting to open the doors of the patrol vehicle. Johnson had to be placed into leg restraints and forced back into the rear of the patrol vehicle.
Johnson faces charges of battery causing bodily injury to law enforcement, possession of meth, unlawful possession of a syringe, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication.
