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| Nathaniel Wallace broke officers’ ribs, wrist |
Nathaniel Wallace |
Monday, August 20, 2012
By K.A. WAGONER - Staff Writer
A Rocky Mount man will serve four years of a 30-year prison sentence for grand larceny and the assault of three Rocky Mount police officers in January.
Nathaniel Edward Wallace, 28, was also sentenced to five years probation and ordered to be of good behavior for 30 years.
Judge W.N. Alexander also ordered Wallace to pay $1,000 restitution and pay all the medical bills and lost wages incurred by the injured police officers.
Wallace was found guilty of three counts of grand larceny and three counts of assaulting a police officer in June.
The assaults happened on Jan. 12 when Wallace was detained for questioning in connection with the theft of brass water meters from the town's public works department last December, according to police records.
While waiting to be transported to jail, Wallace attacked two police officers, according to police records. During the struggle, one officer suffered a cracked rib and a bruised left eye, while the other one sustained numerous scratches and lacerations.
After being transported to jail, Wallace complained of breathing difficulty and was transported to the emergency room for evaluation, according to police records. While in the ER, Wallace became belligerent, cursing a third police officer and disturbing other patients, and had to be removed from the hospital.
While the third officer was escorting Wallace back to the police car, Wallace turned toward the officer, wrapped the officer's right hand in the chain of the handcuffs and twisted, according to police records. The officer suffered a broken wrist as a result of the altercation.
During the sentencing hearing Tuesday, Wallace apologized to the first two police officers and said he was having a panic attack when the incident occurred.
The judge said he didn't know if Wallace was subject to panic attacks or if he was on drugs at the time, but he warned Wallace that if he attacked another officer, he would go to prison "for a long time." |
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