The Arkansas State Police says they are investigating the assault of law enforcement officers, including a member of the Hoxie Police Department, took place on Monday.
State Police says that 26-year-old Matthew Dale Hatley of Black Rock struck an officer with a lead pipe and also injured two other members of state and local law enforcement that arrived on the scene as backup.
Police say that shortly before 9:00 a.m., a Hoxie police officer encountered Hatley walking along the overpass at State Highway 367 (SW Texas Street) and U.S.-63 and saw what the officer described as an iron pipe.
Police say that Hatley was able to get inside of the officer’s patrol car and began hitting the officer with the pipe. During the assault, Hatley was able to get control of the officer’s handgun and fired a round. Police say the officer was not hit by the gunfire.
Backup arrived from state and local law enforcement, and they were able to disarm Hatley. Two officers were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries while a third was treated and released with minor injuries.
Hatley is being held at the Lawrence County Detention Center and faces multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
The state police say that the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department criminal investigation division is also assisting the state police’s criminal investigation division in the matter.
