photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A Lawrence Police Department patrol vehicle is pictured June 28, 2022.

A man was arrested on suspicion of battering a police officer after he allegedly slammed a door on an officer’s leg and injured his foot in an attempt to prevent the officer from entering a home.

The incident occurred just after 3 a.m. Saturday in the 700 block of Locust Street. According to police spokeswoman Laura McCabe, an officer noticed a truck parked on the street with a man inside and what appeared to be an altered temporary license tag. The officer attempted to question the driver, but the man wouldn’t roll down the window, which was heavily tinted.

Another man was nearby, McCabe said, and the officer asked him if he knew the man in the truck. He said he did not. As the officer was heading back to his vehicle to call for assistance, the man got out and walked away. The officer told him to stop, but he attempted to flee into a nearby home and slammed the door on the officer’s foot and knee. The man eventually let the officer’s foot loose but continued to resist arrest until another officer arrived to assist getting him into custody.

The man from the street told officers it was his home and that he didn’t know the man, McCabe said.

The officer’s foot is bruised and sore and he suffered several abrasions but will be OK, McCabe told the Journal-World.

Police identified the suspect as James Austin Fuller, 35. Fuller was arrested on suspicion of battery on a law enforcement officer and interference with a a law enforcement officer.