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Last updated on Monday, December 14, 2015
(JASPER) - A Jasper man arrested in May for striking and spitting into a Jasper police officer’s face was sentenced after he accepted a plea deal.
According to court records 31-year-old Michael Arteaga pleaded guilty to a Level 5 felony count of battery against a public safety official and Level 6 felony counts of battery by bodily waste and intimidation, and two Class A misdemeanor counts of battery resulting in bodily injury and resisting law enforcement.
He was sentenced Friday to six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.
According to a probable cause affidavit Arteaga was arrested on May 30 after officers were called to the JR's Bar, in the 200 block of Clay Street in Jasper. According to police Arteaga had been in a fight with another male patron, slamming his head on the ground several times.
When police arrived Arteaga ran from the scene.
Officers gave chase and caught him about 150 yards from the bar on the railroad tracks.
Arteaga fought with the officer striking him in the face with his fist. During the struggle, Arteaga knocked the officer's radio from his hands as the officer attempted to call for assistants.
The officer continued to struggle with Arteaga, until two other officers arrived. He continued to fight with all three officers until he was finally tased and placed in handcuffs.
Once in custody, Arteaga spit in the officer's face and continued to be belligerent with both police and emergency crews who removed the taser barbs from Arteaga.
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