Crime and Courts

Livingston man accused of kicking officer in the face at detention center

Posted: Nov 8, 2012 1:49 PM by Erin Schattauer
Updated: Nov 8, 2012 2:09 PM

BOZEMAN - A man accused of getting drunk and kicking an officer in the face at the Gallatin County Detention Center appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court this morning.

Johnnie Sykes, 45, of Livingston was arrested at around 2 a.m. Wednesday after a police officer reportedly saw him stumbling through the streets in downtown Bozeman and stopping and standing in the middle of Mendenhall Street. The officer reports that Sykes admitted to drinking a lot of alcohol and also said he had to get home but had no way to get there.

Sykes was arrested for being an intoxicated pedestrian. He was taken to the Gallatin County Detention Center where an officer said he became uncooperative. While officers were trying to move Sykes into a holding cell, he reportedly kicked a female officer in the face then tried to do it again, but she was able to catch his foot before it could strike her a second time, court papers state.

The officer said she was OK, but she had a large red mark on her face where she was kicked, court papers state.

Sykes said in court Thursday morning that he didn't mean to kick the officer.

Judge Rick West set Sykes' bail at $5,000. He is charged with being an intoxicated pedestrian and assault on a peace officer.

His preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 23.