press release / Blackford

Officers of the Hannibal Police Department investigating a traffic crash at US 61 and Pleasant at 9:45 a.m. encountered a motorist who refused to obey the traffic control officer and subsequently struck the officer in an attempt to leave the area. According to officers reports a man identified as John W. Blackford, 55, of Hannibal refused to obey the detour directions provided by the officer and sped past the officer sideswiping him nearly knocking the officer to the ground. The officer commanded Blackford to stop and approached the vehicle once again and ordered him to turn off the vehicle and to exit it. Blackford refused and as the officer attempted to open the door Blackford accelerated rapidly catching the officer's hand in the door and drug the officer several feet until the officer was able to free himself. Additional officers initiated a vehicle pursuit of the Blackford vehicle where he stopped again on Pleasant near County Club. Blackford again refused the commands of the officer to exit the vehicle, locked his door and sped away. As Blackford approached the intersection of County Club and Pleasant support police units arrived and prevented Blackford from continuing. Blackford was removed from the vehicle, taken into custody and transported to the Hannibal Police Department. Blackford was transferred to the Marion County Jail Facility where he was placed on a 24 hour hold for 2 counts of Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer (felony) and 2 counts of Interfere/Resist Arrest (felony). The officer sought out patient treatment for minor injuries