PANAMA CITY — A June jury trial has been scheduled for a man accused of strangling two people before leading deputies on a chase and assaulting officers.
Lyle Kirkpatrick, 41, of Southport, faces eight charges when his trial begins June 8 at 8:30 a.m.: two counts of reckless driving, battery, aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude, aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, tampering with or harassing a witness, and domestic battery by strangulation.
Bay County Sheriff’s officers responded to Kirkpatrick’s home on Jan. 6. There were two domestic violence victims, according to a law enforcement affidavit. The first person tried to wake up Kirkpatrick while he was lying in bed. Kirkpatrick allegedly responded by kicking her twice in the stomach, and the first victim’s daughter pleaded with Kirkpatrick to stop.
The victim stated Kirkpatrick turned to her and grabbed her by the throat, causing her to choke, authorities reported. He then allegedly dragged the victim into the kitchen and slammed her head into the sink. The same person tried to call for help, but Kirkpatick took the phone and smashed it, according to deputies. After breaking the phone, he allegedly punched the victim in the face, knocking her unconscious. The victim stated she later gained consciousness and called 911.
When the first deputy arrived on scene, he noticed a Kia SUV with its lights off. Authorities said the driver, later identified as Kirkpatrick, slowed down to a stop 10 yards in front. The deputy exited his vehicle when the SUV accelerated and Kirkpatrick aimed at it his patrol car, according to the affidavit.
Sheriff’s officer Jason Larson tried to conduct a traffic stop on Kirkpatrick, but he allegedly sped up to speed in excess of 100 miles per hour and turned off his headlights.
“This was an obvious wanton disregard for the safety of the people in the area as there were other vehicles in the area who were having to move out of Kirkpatrick’s way to keep from being struck,” Larson said in the affidavit.
Later, another BCSO officer said Kirkpatrick intentionally drove his SUV into the driver’s side of his patrol vehicle “with the intent to bodily harm,” a separate affidavit states.
Kirkpatrick finally was stopped after Deputy Wade Boan used spike strips to intervene in the pursuit, BCSO reported.
Kirkpatrick sought the appointment of public defender Jan. 7 and posted a $50,000 bond Jan. 14. Brantley Clark Jr. is the judge in the case.