Bedford man pleads guilty to battery on a public safety officer

BEDFORD – Reno Bates pleaded guilty Tuesday to battery on a police officer in Lawrence County Superior Court II. Charges of domestic battery, resisting law enforcement, and disorderly conduct were dropped.

Bates was sentenced to 365 days and given credit for six days served. Judge William Sleva then suspended 359 days. Bates was placed on supervised probation for 359 days to begin immediately with the following special terms, no alcohol/illegal drugs, he is subject to drug/alcohol screens and he must complete 40 hours of community service or road crew and complete Batterer’s Prevention Program. He was ordered to pay $185 in court costs and a bond fee of $50.

Reno Bates

Bates was arrested on February 3, 2020, after Bedford Police officers were called to a home in the 1710 block of 15th Street after a report of a domestic fight.

When police arrived at 9:51 p.m. police found a juvenile female in the front yard saying her dad was hurting her sister.

When officers entered the home they found 39-year-old Reno Bates holding down a female juvenile by the hair and yelling in her face. Officers told Bates several times to let go of the female and he became abrasive with officers.

Officers told Bates to step away from the situation and he began pushing one of the officers. According to a probable cause affidavit, another officer used his TASER weapon to take Bates to the ground and he continued to resist as officers attempted to handcuff him.

Once outside Bates started screaming and refusing to get into the police vehicle and eventually was transported to a local hospital and released.

The victim told police Bates was mad at her because she had said something about his drinking. She refused to file charges, but because of the violent situation officers arrested Bates for injuring his daughter.

Bates was taken to St. Vincent Dunn Hospital for a medical evaluation and then arrested.