Two arrested for assaulting Eugene police officers
EUGENE, Ore. – Eugene police said two officers were assaulted Saturday night around 7 p.m.
It happened in the River Road area, reportedly when officers responded to a family dispute at a duplex on Spring Meadow Avenue.
According to Eugene Police spokeswoman Melinda Kletzok, officers Ryan Molony and Carissa Hartmann were taking a police report at the house when 25-year-old Nicholas Jenkins showed up. Kletzok said Jenkins started to run, Molony chased him and Jenkins then punched Molony in the face.
Both men were taken to the hospital and released.
Jenkins was arrested and lodged at the Lane County Jail. He's facing a number of charges, including harassment, resisting arrest and interfering with a police.
Jenkins' mother, 50-year-old Maria Carol Jenkins, also was arrested on assault charges after police say she assaulted Hartmann. Police arrested Jenkins' father, Gary Brandt Jenkins, for interfering with the investigation.
Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns had harsh words for the Jenkins, calling the assaults "intolerable." Kerns issued the following statement:
"These are two mature, hardworking and dedicated professionals who, while responding to a call of domestic violence, were themselves brutally attacked by two individuals," Kerns said in his statement. "I'm proud of our two officers for dutifully protecting the public, and for courageously defending one another from assault while arresting the primary suspect. While selfless service is one of our core values, it is important that all our officers go home safely to their families at the end of their shift."
Kerns told KVAL News domestic violence calls can be very dangerous because emotions often already are high before officers even arrive.
