Warrant issued for Concordia man who allegedly assaulted police officer

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
By KATHY FAIRCHILD/Staff writer

An arrest warrant has been issued for Steven J. Cooper Jr., 26, of Concordia, following an assault on a Sweet Springs police officer Sunday, Sept. 20.

According to a report from Sweet Springs police, Cooper was observed near a Sweet Springs car wash, in the act of assaulting a woman with whom he had a relationship when officers were called to the scene.

During the subsequent arrest, and later at the police station, Cooper was combative and physically attacked the arresting officer, telling her, the report says, to "shoot me, then."

The warrant asks a cash or surety bond of $1,500, and charges Cooper with class A misdemeanor third-degree assault on a law enforcement officer.

According to the incident report, Cooper has a record of assaults against family, with injury, on his criminal record, including interfering with emergency calls.

If found guilty of the assault, Cooper could serve up to a year in county jail and/or pay up to a $1,000 fine.

Charges contained in reports provided by law enforcement officials are not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting charges must be presented before a jury, whose duty is to determine if the accused is guilty or not guilty of the charges.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

Comments

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Just to clear up some confusion: The judges in Saline County are Dennis A. Rolf, in the Circuit Court, and James T. "Tut" Bellamy, in the Associate Court.

On occasion, Judge Hugh Harvey takes Judge Bellamy's place; other judges are sometimes assigned to local cases in the circuit court.

Donald G. Stouffer is the county's prosecuting attorney, not a judge.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Wed, Sep 23, 2009, at 2:28 PM

Maybe a psych. evaluation is needed send him to Fulton to get a real taste of assault is

-- Posted by cpcrazy21 on Wed, Sep 23, 2009, at 10:05 AM

local-a-rod..

It really upsets me when someone is always QUICK to blame the parents, I believe if you read the article it says this guy is 26yrs old..he is a grown man. He alone needs punished for his actions. Trust and believe I was one that would have been taken to the wood shed as a child, and surprisingly I lived to tell about it. It taught me right from wrong..But with the laws we have now Parents have no control over their children and time-out thats a joke. Sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, if they mess up its OUR fault..Yes I believe there are children in this world that need protected, but we as parents can't even paddle our children without a hotline call..Then they pull your children out of your home and break up the whole family..So it's the laws that are to BLAME! Parents don't work hard to raise their children, Do right by them, Rush them out of the house to be criminals. So PLEASE think about what you say..Mother of 5..I take this Personal!!

-- Posted by ForGet_me_Knot on Wed, Sep 23, 2009, at 9:56 AM

Parents... Control your KIDS!!! I thought about pulling any of these stunts I have been reading about I wouldn't be alive!!! Beating family members and females makes kids feel tough these days I guess...

-- Posted by local-A-rod on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 8:31 PM

If he has a record of assults against family members and has gotten by with it,he will probably walk on this charge also and assult more people in the future. That is what a slap on the wrist does to criminals without a conscience. He probably WILL go in front of Roth and Stouffer. I feel sorry for his family because who knows what will happen to them when he goes home in a couple of days!!

-- Posted by mosthonest1 on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 6:42 PM

well honest opinion i agree with you. i am working my hit list now.

-- Posted by yank on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 4:02 PM

honest opinion: He will likely get his chance for enduring freedom as you fear by appearing in front of Roth or Stouffer. The charges may be more than municipal. You might want to find out when he is going to get to the court house, and stay home with locked doors that day.

-- Posted by Oklahoma Reader on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 3:45 PM

So, if I am reading this correctly, he will prossibly pay either $1,500.00 cash, or get out of jail for less on bond, after reportedly "physically" attacking a police officer? I would understand if ran his mouth a little bit, thinking he was Johnny bad @&%. However, attacking on the other hand, seems a step to far. I would lean towards no bond, but who am I to judge, just my opinion.

-- Posted by stiffler on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 3:33 PM

It sounds like this guy needs a little time to quietly reflect on the consequences of being an idiot. Here's hoping there is more than a fine involved.

-- Posted by outsider on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 3:23 PM

This guy should move to Marshall! He could get infront of Roth and Stouffer and get 25 chances to kill some one, then 3 chances after he kills someone (or an elderly couple) like other people in saline county.

-- Posted by honest opinion on Tue, Sep 22, 2009, at 3:21 PM