The following criminal complaint has been filed in the Tucker County Magistrate Office:
David Earl Stemple, Jr., Hendricks, was charged with one felony count of Unlawful Assault. According to the complaint on Saturday, March 13 at approximately 8:15 p.m. Patrolman N.C. Gidley was sitting in the parking lot of the Depot Diner when he observed two vehicles approaching from the direction of Family Dollar. Vehicle 1, (driven by David E. Stemple, Jr.) proceeded into the oncoming lane and passed Vehicle 2, (driven by Stacey L. Stemple). Vehicle 1 stopped in front of Vehicle 2 and David Stemple attempted to get out of the vehicle and start towards Vehicle 2. Gidley began to pull his Police Cruiser out of the Depot Diner towards the incident. Vehicle 2 made a right hand turn into the Walgreens parking lot and Mr. Stemple got back into his vehicle and accelerated at a high rate of speed paralleling Vehicle 2 on Main St. Gidley activated his emergency lights and pulled behind Mr. Stemple in an attempt to perform a traffic stop. Mr. Stemple then made an abrupt right hand turn onto Davis St. and a second right hand turn into the same parking lot as Vehicle 2. Mr. Stemple then forced his vehicle into a head-on collision with Vehicle 2. As Gidley exited his cruiser, Mr. Stemple exited his vehicle and attempted to bust out the passenger window of Vehicle 2 with is fist. Gidley issued verbal commands to Mr. Stemple to step away from the vehicle and get on the ground, to which he complied. Mr. Stemple was placed in hand restraints and a frisk was performed to ensure had no weapons. All subjects are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
