COLUMBUS – Columbus police say a Tennessee man will face charges after he struck an officer investigating a shoplifting complaint at a South Side Walmart late Monday night.
The officer was working special duty at the store at 3759 S. High Street at 11:45 p.m. when employees told him a man and woman had been shoplifting, according to detectives with the Assault Unit.
Evan Whitt (right), whose address was given as Ardmore, Tenn., resisted the officer and hit him in the face before Whitt, 31, and Heather Harvey tried to escape on a motorcycle, investigators said.
Whitt crashed the bike, sending himself and Harvey to the hospital.
Police say both are expected to survive their injuries and, once released, Whitt will be transported to the Franklin County Jail on charges of assault on a police officer and aggravated vehicular assault.