Cole County man accused of struggling with an officer, inflicting minor injuries

Jesse Williams was arrested on Tuesday after struggling with a Cole County deputy.

According to the probable cause statement, deputies were dispatched to the Dollar General store in the 5000 block of West Business 50 because a man was seen hiding behind the store.

Deputies said they approached Williams and asked him why he was behind the store. Williams told the deputy that he and his girlfriend had gotten into a fight and she drove off without him.

Deputies said they asked Williams if he was carrying anything illegal and Williams said no.

A deputy performed a pat-down search and felt a rocky substance in one of Williams’ pockets, according to the probable cause statement.

Deputies said Williams claimed he did not know what the deputy had felt and began to take out items from his pockets.

Deputies said they performed another pat-down and that is when Williams began to resist one deputy by pushing him and running away.

A deputy was able to get Williams in handcuffs and found a lot of the rocky white substance in his pocket, deputies said.

Deputies said they identified the white substance as methamphetamine.

Deputies said they found a syringe and a handgun underneath the ice machine near where Williams was standing.

Williams told deputies he had been out of prison for about four months and he was a convicted felon, according to the probable cause statement.

One deputy said he had a few injuries from Williams resisting; he had injuries on both of his knees, a scrape on his left elbow and scratch marks on a few of his fingers.

Williams was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and resisting and interfering the arrest.