Four officers hurt in scuffle with domestic abuse suspect

Four police officers were hurt in a domestic incident in Cedar Rapids this morning that ended with a man being Tasered and taken into custody on multiple charges.

Police were called to 5001 First Ave. SW at 8:12 a.m. today when a neighbor claimed the woman who lived at the home had been assaulted by the father of her children, 21-year-old Kevin Herring Jr. No one answered the door when officers arrived, but the neighbor came to the door and was let in by Watkins, police said.

Officers then found Herring inside, holding one of his two children, and learned Herring had injured the woman at the home and refused to let her leave. When asked, Herring to put the child down, but then became combative, assaulting four officers, including:

• Lt. Walt Deeds, a 20-year officer, who suffered a cut to his right cheek just below his eye and a cut to his right hand;
• Officer Robert Murphy, a 33-year officer, who suffered an injury to his right thumb;
• Officer Norma Hanse, a 32-year officer, who suffered a bruise to her right hip; and
• Officer Amanda Greider, a 1-year officer, who suffered an injury to her leg.

Herring, whose address is listed at large, was subdued by officers using a Taser. He wasn't hurt, but was examined at Mercy Medical Center, as is standard procedure when a Taser is deployed.

He was then taken to the Linn County Jail, and faces charges of false imprisonment, a serious misdemeanor; four charges of assault with injury on a peace officer, a class D felony; domestic abuse assault with injury, a serious misdemeanor; and three charges of violating a no-contact order.