Man charged with assaulting officer

PANAMA CITY -- A man was arrested Monday for allegedly pulling a knife on a police officer who found him trespassing, according to the Panama City Police Department.

Jesse James Taylor, 54, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, depriving an officer means of protection and armed trespassing. He was arrested around 5 p.m. Monday after an officer responded to report of a suspicious person at 1516 Hickory Ave. and found Taylor, who had previously been arrested for trespassing at that address.

When the officer, whom police didn’t identify in a press release, attempted to take Taylor into custody Taylor removed a knife from his pocket and threatened to kill the officer. Despite Taylor’s resistance, the officer was able to disarm him, put him in handcuffs and take him to jail, police said.

Police continue to investigate the incident and urge anyone with information to contact Detective Tony Phinney at 872-3100 or CrimeStoppers at 785-TIPS (8477).