Teenager Allegedly Attacks Officer In Order To Stay Behind Bars

by Doug Wernet

LAS CRUCES — In a strange turn of events, a teenager at a rehabilitation center allegedly struck an officer because he wanted to stay behind bars.

Officials say 18-year-old Anthony Taylor allegedly struck an officer in the head because he wanted to stay behind bars.

When questioned,Taylor told police he knowingly swung at the officer and was scared to go back outinto the streets with a methamphetamine drug addiction.

District Attorney Susana Martinez said this is the first time she hasever heard of an inmate punching an officer in order to stay in jail to clean up his drug habit.

“That is still not a reason to do that and he will be charged like anyone else would. There is never a good reason to minimize the charges,” said Martinez. “Good intentions versus bad intentions, there’s never any reason for battery against a police officer.”

Martinez said Taylor was moved from the juvenile center to the Dona Ana County Detention Center because of the attack.

He is charged with two counts of battery upon a peace officer, which is a fourth degree felony.