Stuart Morrison, Staff Writer
Officer Shepherd was dispatched to Sturgis Library the evening of July 25. The officer was advised that the library staff had attempted to get an unknown subject to leave multiple times, but the subject refused. Officers Blalock and Haynes responded as backup. Officer Shepherd met with the library staff member, who informed the officer that the subject was on the second floor on a lap-top, wearing a grey KSU sweat-shirt with a hoodie. The officers proceeded to the second floor and immediately noticed that most of the lights were off, and split up to search for the subject. After a couple of minutes Officer Shepherd heard Officer Blalock speaking with someone near the southeast corner of the library, and headed there with Officer Haynes. Sitting in the corner was a man matching the description given by the library staff member. Officer Blalock was explaining to the man that the library was closed and that he needed to leave the building. The man stated that he wasn’t going to leave, and that he was going to finish a test. Officer Blalock asked the man if he had any identification on his person, and if so, to produce it. The man replied that he had ID, but wasn’t going to
let the officer see it. Officer Blalock then informed the man that he was trespassing, and that he would need to provide ID and leave. The man again stated that he wasn’t going to leave and that he was going to finish his test, and changed his story saying that he didn’t have ID. Officer Blalock informed the man of alternate places where he could finish his test. The man did not respond to any of the options. Officer Shepherd stepped in at the request of Officer Blalock and informed the man that they did not want to take him into custody. After explaining the trespassing law, and informing the man that he was obstructing officers in the performance of their duties, Officer Shepherd advised that the man could be placed into custody on these offenses. The man continued to be difficult with the officers, and began to get irritated at the officers. The man suddenly got up and grabbed his back-pack, and Officer Shepherd told him to leave the bag alone, then asked to see the man’s wallet, in order to view his ID. The man stated he did not have a wallet or ID. Officer Shepherd asked for permission to search the man’s pockets, and the man gave verbal consent to the search. The officer found a Cobb County Government ID in his right front pocket. When confronted about this the man said he thought officers meant a Driver’s License, it was apparent at this time that the man was playing games with the officers. The officer explained once again what laws the man was violating, and informed him that he was very close to being placed under arrest, but that the officer did not want to place the man under arrest. At this time, the man stepped back and took an aggressive stance, making the officers fear being physically engaged. As a result, Officer Blalock removed his taser from the holster, and Officer Shepherd took a step back to avoid obstructing a deployment. The man then opened his cell-phone and placed it to his ear and shoved his other hand into his pocket. At this point Officer Blalock ordered the man to remove the phone from his ear, or he would be tased. The man complied and closed his phone, at which point Officer Shepherd ordered him to hand the phone over, which the man at first refused, but the officer grabbed the phone from his hand and placed it on the desk. The man grabbed for his back-pack again, and started digging through it, and Officer Shepherd ordered the man to stop, and he did not. The officer, fearing the man may have had a weapon quickly grabbed the bag from the man, and informed him that he was now under arrest for Trespass and Obstruction. The officer placed the man in handcuffs that were double locked. After a search of the back pack, officers found a KSU ID, a Georgia Driver’s License, and a small pocket-knife. A friend of the man’s came to pick up his things, and the man was escorted to the Cobb County Jail.
