A Mattoon man was arrested last week after assaulting a police officer. Mattoon Police pulled over a vehicle on Thursday at approximately 12:30am. A passenger in the vehicle, later identified as 24-year-old Nicholas Lindley, fled from the vehicle when the traffic stop was made.
The officer gave chase and attempted to apprehend Lindley approximately a block and ahalf away from the original stop. Lindley refused to obey the officer’s commands and became combative. During the course of the struggle Lindley allegedly made several attempts to disarm the officer by grabbing his holster and attempting to remove his duty firearm from it. After a failing to remove his gun from the officers holster, Lindley was able to gain control of the officers 24 inch Maglite. He then turned the Maglite on the officer and struck him approximately three times in the head rendering the officer dazed and confused and unable to complete the arrest. Lindley then fled and was later apprehended by other Mattoon officers without further incident.
At the scene of the altercation a firearm was recovered that had allegedly fallen out of Lindley’s pants during the officers attempt to take him into custody. Police report that they also found drug paraphernalia and a fairly substantial amount of methamphetamine at the time of the arrest.
The Mattoon officer assaulted during the attempted arrest was treated at the hospital and released with head injuries. He is now off duty recovering at home. Lindley is facing charges of aggravated battery and attempting to disarm a peace officer. He is in custody in the Coles County Jail with bond set at $750,000.