Man pleads guilty to assaulting a police officer

SUMMERS COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — A 58-year-old man pleaded guilty in a West Virginia courtroom to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact.

According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, and according to court documents, on May 4, 2024, a police officer made a traffic stop for a car that was driven by MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C. on Interstate 64 near Sandstone, West Virginia. When he got to the front of the car, the police officer smelled marijuana. The passenger in Walker’s car told the police officer that there was 3.5 grams of marijuana in the car.

The police officer told Walker to get out of his car and stand his car while he searched Walker’s car. Walker failed to listen to the police officer multiple times. Walker then admitted that he did at one point punch the police officer on his right side after he removed something out of Walker’s car during the search.

Upon investigation, a bag that was taken out from Walker’s car during the search contained a Rossi .38 Special revolver, which was immediately forfeited by Walker.

Walker’s sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made this announcement and praised the investigative work of the National Park Service. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn was in charge of the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.

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