Man jumps out of second story window avoiding police

POLSON — A 36-year-old St. Ignatius man admitted in Lake County District Court last Wednesday to resisting arrest after he entered an occupied apartment and jumped out of a window head-first in order to escape arrest. James W. Allen will be charged for the misdemeanor and fined $500 for evading and challenging police last June.

On June 4, Lake County deputies and St. Ignatius police officers responded to a report of an assault with a weapon on Jim Dandy Lane in St. Ignatius. The alleged victim told Lake County deputy Shoemaker that an unidentified Hispanic male with long hair, black shorts and a grey shirt had threatened to kill him with a six-inch buck knife. The suspect had ran off toward an apartment complex on Joscum Lane with another man.

According to court documents, when authorities began to search the apartments, a man told Anderson that someone had kicked down his daughter’s apartment door and was hiding upstairs. The residents exited the apartment after informing authorities that their young son was still inside his room. Authorities entered the apartment to discover Allen, who had previous records for resisting arrest and a medical caution for infectious diseases, hanging out the second story window, yelling at officers.

According to court documents, Allen began yelling at the officers and telling them to shoot him.

“I’m armed I’m carrying a concealed weapon,” and “if I had a gun I would use it right now,” Allen said according to the court affidavit. Allen reached out at deputy Shoemaker as if he was holding a gun and said “BAM,” causing authorities to duck for cover in the doorway.

Shoemaker and Officer Gembala went upstairs to the bedroom that the defendant had locked himself in, documents state. Officer Parker broke down the door and told Allen to not move. Allen kept telling police to shoot him and then after not complying with their orders, dove for the nearby bed as if he was reaching for a weapon. Shoemaker deployed his tazer but missed as Allen ducked. He then dove out of the second story window head-first.

Allen landed in the yard and began running down the street. When officer Gembala pursued him, Allen turned around toward the officer in a confrontational manner, telling him “shoot me, shoot me,” according to court documents. Gembala drew his weapon, pointed it at Allen and told him to get on the ground. Allen approached Gembala with his arms up but was yelling obscenities.

Officer Anderson, who was standing next to Gembala felt threatened and pepper sprayed him in the eyes and mouth. Authorities handcuffed him and leg chains were required to further restrain him as he was kicking and fighting officers, documents state. The reporting victim later identified Allen as the man that had threatened him with a knife.

Allen was initially charged with burglary, and pleaded not guilty on June 22.