A West Plains man wanted on active county warrants for charges of second-degree domestic assault, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree child endangerment reportedly injured an officer during his arrest and now faces additional charges.
Brandon L. Stokes, 23, was taken into custody Thursday, according to information provided by West Plains Police Officer Conner Burnes, from the desk of Chief Stephen Monticelli.
On Tuesday, officers were investigating a burglary on Hubert Redburn Drive, saw a suspicious vehicle in the nearby area of Lynn Drive and tried to speak with the suspect, identified as Stokes. Stokes reportedly fled on foot and it was discovered he had an active warrant.
At about 1:15 p.m. Thursday, officers went to a location on Walnut Street to arrest Stokes on the outstanding warrants and he again led officers on a foot chase, according to police. He continued to resist arrest and was taken into custody but an officer was hurt during a struggle with the suspect, the statement continued.
Police added that a request for charges of second-degree assault on a special victim, resisting arrest for a felony and unlawful possession of an illegal weapon would be sent to the Howell County Prosecuting Attorney's office.
Court records show a warrant for failure to appear with a $10,000 cash or corporate surety bond was issued for Stokes on Feb. 2 on the domestic assault charge. It was filed on Oct. 9 after Stokes allegedly was in a fight with a woman, resulting in her being shoved down onto a concrete sidewalk as she tried to get away from him, hitting her head, causing injury.
Filed documents show the assault reportedly happened on Simpson Street and Stokes claimed he had been punched repeatedly in the face by the victim, but the woman reported she struck him after she had been knocked down and "blacked out."
She further stated when she regained consciousness Stokes was on top of her and she struck him in order to defend herself. The report submitted to prosecutors noted Stokes had some redness and swelling on his cheeks and around his eyes, and the victim was checked by ambulance personnel at the scene and was found to have a contusion on her left temple.
Officer Jacob Brixey, who submitted a statement to prosecutors, reported the suspect appeared to be the primary aggressor in the incident because the victim had the more severe injuries.
Stokes was held on a $5,000 bond, according to court records, and was released on his own recognizance on Oct. 12. He has pleaded not guilty and is to appear Monday for a criminal setting before 37th Associate Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
He is represented by Assistant Public Defender Corri Mader-Twillmann.
On Dec. 17, officers took a report from a woman who said she had been assaulted by Stokes the night before, after an argument that led to Stokes putting his hands around her throat about 10 times during the night and grabbing her arms to push her onto a bed several times.
The victim added she felt pressure in her temples when he had his hands around her neck, and being grabbed and shoved also caused her pain.
She also reported Stokes told her if she wanted to leave she would have to go out the window, but when she attempted to he would stop her by throwing her onto the bed, preventing her from leaving the room, and he had taken her cell phone when she arrived at his house and hadn't given it back.
At one point during the altercation, she said, she was holding her infant when Stokes grabbed her shoulder and pushed her backward.
A warrant for Stokes on that case was issued Dec. 27, also with a $10,000 bond, and it was served Friday. He is to appear for arraignment, also on Monday and before Ray, court records show.
Stokes is also facing a Phelps County charge of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and is ordered to appear for a pretrial conference on April 23 before 25th Associate Circuit Judge Kenneth Clayton, with a trial to be presided over by the same judge on May 17. He is being represented by Public Defender Carter Phillips in that case, court records show.
