A man from Georgia was jailed after being found guilty of assaulting several persons, including a police officer, while intoxicated and nude.
On December 17, Kelly Holcomb, 37, is alleged to have entered a Deerfield Lodge hotel in Acworth, Georgia, and struck a man and a woman in the face.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Acworth Police Officer Taneisha Palarche was the first to arrive at the scene to do a welfare check after police got complaints of a nude guy roaming around and hitting people. Palarche approached Holcomb and made an effort to calm him down, but Holcomb instead launched an attack on a bystander before turning on the officer.
“He was naked and believed to be intoxicated on multiple different types of drugs,” Officer Eric Mistretta said after the incident last year.
Police claim that Holcomb attempted to gouge Palarche’s eyes out with his thumbs, strangled her, and knocked out one of her front teeth. One resident apparently assisted in freeing the police while others reportedly sought to divert the man.
When additional officers showed up there, Holcomb kicked one of them. The officers deployed a Taser and tried to detain him, but they were unsuccessful.
Holcomb was eventually taken into custody by police and taken to the hospital. After being let out of the hospital, he was later arrested.
“While officers were trying to restrain the suspect Metro EMS arrived at the scene to assist and were able to administer a sedative to calm Holcomb down,” Mistretta said.
One count of aggravated battery on a peace officer, one count of aggravated assault on a peace officer, two counts of aggravated battery, one count of aggravated assault, two counts of obstructing an officer, one count of first-degree burglary, and one count of misdemeanour battery were all found to be true by a Cobb County jury.
During the trial, Holcomb acknowledged using methamphetamine before the assault.
“I’m thankful for the bystanders that helped Officer Palarche and the other victims in this case. This case shows the dangers of drug use and the harmful consequences it has not just for the user but the individuals surrounding them.” Cobb County Assistant District Attorney Nolan Slifko said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta.
Holcomb received a 20-year sentence, of which the first 15 years will be spent behind bars.
According to WSB-TV, Judge Jason D. Marbutt said before sentencing, “Your bad decisions have brought us here.” Holcomb was forbidden by the judge from speaking to the victims.
