Jason Barker

I’ve been hearing quite a bit recently about police officers encountering combative people.

One Lawrence man, Jason Barker, was arrested early Thursday morning after officers were called to the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Street by a neighbor who reported a disturbance, police said.

Around 3:15 a.m. police arrived to the scene after the neighbor said Barker “was screaming profanities and swinging a bat around while walking up and down the street,” said Lawrence Police Sgt. Laurie Powell.

When officers approached, Barker, 41, became belligerent with them, Powell said. When they tried to arrest him he resisted and battered them, she said.

Neither officer was injured during the incident, Powell said.

Officers were eventually able to arrest Barker on suspicion of battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and intimidation of a witness.

Barker was released from the Douglas County Jail later Thursday morning after posting a $500 bond.

I report on crime and courts for the Journal-World. I can be reached by email at cswanson@ljworld.com, by phone at (785) 832-7284 or on Twitter @Conrad_Swanson.