Driver, dog attack deputy during traffic stop

Man went for officer’s gun

A Montz man was arrested on Monday after an altercation with a police officer that resulted in numerous charges, including attempted murder.

Jerry R. Simmons, 47, of 220 Union Lane in Montz, was pulled over on River Road in New Sarpy around 11 p.m. after a four-year veteran officer with the St. Charles Sheriff's Office observed him speeding and swerving in the roadway.

After pulling him over, Simmons refused to take a sobriety test and the officer attempted to put him under arrest, according to Sheriff Greg Champagne.

Simmons then allegedly began to forcefully resist arrest, calling on a pit bull he had in the truck to attack the officer.

The struggle continued with Simmons purportedly striking the officer in the head several times and attempting to take the officer's weapon. The incident ended when a resident who lived nearby arrived and knocked Simmons off of the deputy, Champagne said.

The officer then deployed his taser on Simmons and arrested him.

"We are thankful that our deputy will fully recover and for the help of a resident who saw the need to intervene," Champagne said. "This incident illustrates the dangers law enforcement officers nationwide routinely face just trying to do their job."

Simmons is a registered, convicted sex offender from the state of Ohio, the Sheriff's Office said. He has a lengthy criminal record and after this altercation was charged with attempted first degree murder, resisting arrest by violence, open container, battery of a police officer, disarming a police officer, 3rd offense D.W.I., possession of Marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple criminal damage under $500, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, driver's license not on person and for having a dog in the car un-tethered.

Simmons is being held on an $800,000 bond set by Judge Robert Chaisson.