Sheriff’s officers take man into custody following domestic disturbance

Deputies use Taser to subdue suspect

Douglas County Sheriff’s officers used a Taser to take a 48-year-old rural Lawrence man into custody Wednesday afternoon as a suspect in a domestic battery incident north of Lawrence after the man had refused to leave a house and follow officers’ commands.

Sgt. Steve Lewis, a sheriff’s spokesman, said at 3:10 p.m. that officers used a key to enter the residence in the 1700 block of East 1350 Road.

“He was subdued. There are no known injuries to either the suspect or our deputies,” Lewis said.

The man was examined at Lawrence Memorial Hospital before he was taken to the Douglas County Jail, Lewis said. He was booked on charges of domestic battery, aggravated assault, reckless aggravated battery, making a criminal threat, criminal damage to property, two counts of aggravated assault on an officer and obstruction, according to jail records.

The Journal-World generally does not identify suspects unless they are officially charged.

Officers were initially called about 2 p.m. to the residence for an unknown disturbance that included a 911 hang-up, he said.

Lewis said a woman, who was the alleged victim of a battery and assault, left the residence, but the man had refused to comply with instructions from officers. The residence is east of Michigan Street and north of the Kansas Turnpike. Officers had blocked Michigan Street north of Sunchase Drive and North 1750 Road, but they will be reopened.

The woman later gave officers a key, which they used to get inside the residence. Deputies used the department’s tactical equipment during the call, Lewis said.

The woman was also taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital by ambulance, he said.