Police: Man head-butts pregnant girlfriend in Wal-Mart
NEW CASTLE, Ind. – A New Castle man is accused of head-butting his pregnant girlfriend as they shopped in the local Wal-Mart, breaking her nose.
After that, 21-year-old Robert R. Lawson allegedly tried to “knee, kick, head-butt and bite” New Castle police officers, who then used an electronic stun device to subdue him.
City police were called the Wal-Mart, at 3167 S. Ind. 3, about 3:15 p.m. Sunday, after Lawson allegedly attacked his girlfriend in the grocery section of the store.
The 19-year-old woman said she and Lawson began arguing during their shopping trip, and that he got “in her face” before breaking her nose with his head. She was taken by ambulance to Henry County Hospital.
The incident took place with the woman’s infant son in her shopping cart. She told police she and Lawson “were dating, and she is pregnant with (his) child.”
Lawson, found in the store’s parking lot, said he stumbled while inside the store and accidentally fell into his accuser.
A breath test measured the New Castle man’s blood-alcohol content at 0.1611. In Indiana, motorists with a reading of 0.08 or higher are considered intoxicated.
Lawson allegedly became “verbally combative” and cursed after he was placed in a police car and officers refused his request for a cigarette. After he began to kick items in the car, officers tried to placed shackles on his ankles, leading to his efforts to bite and kick them, a police report said.
While being driven to the Henry County jail, Lawson allegedly struck an officer in the side with an elbow. After arriving at the jail, he continued to struggle with authorities, the report said, and was placed in a “restraint chair.”
Investigators said they later viewed a Wal-Mart surveillance video that showed the violence in the grocery section.
Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs’ office has charged Lawson with domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery against a public safety official, resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
Henry Circuit Court 2 Judge Kit Crane granted a request by prosecutors that Lawson be held without bond for 15 days.
Lawson has been convicted of driving while intoxicated (last August and in March 2015) and contributing to the delinquency of a minor (in July 2014).
Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. Follow him on Twitter: @DouglasWalkerSP.
Portland teen charged with rape
Family: Ex-boyfriend tried to rip out Indiana woman's tongue
Muncie man held in fraud investigation
