Unruly Inmate Threatens African American Officer While Being Removed from Court Proceeding

April 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

An outburst by an inmate during a recent criminal court proceeding has landed the prisoner in more trouble with the law.

26 year old Nathaniel Dylan Tippens of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with assault and disorderly conduct. His bond is $10,000 and he will make an appearance in General Sessions Court on these charges April 11.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said Tippens became so disruptive while criminal court was in session last Monday, April 1 he had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom. On the way out Tippens kicked the courtroom doors screaming racial slurs and making threats toward the Sheriff’s Department’s Chief Deputy Robert Patrick, who is African American, and another officer, Joe Pack, who were escorting Tippens back to the jail.

According to Sheriff Ray, Tippens, who is in jail on other charges, was in court for a scheduled appearance and seated in the jury box with other prisoners as is typical for a court proceeding. After propping his feet up on a barrier in front of him, a court officer asked Tippens to put his feet back on the floor but he ignored the officer. Because of his behavior, Chief Deputy Patrick ordered Tippens to stand for escort back to the jail. Before leaving the room, Tippens, in the custody of Chief Deputy Patrick and Officer Pack, kicked the courtroom doors on his way out. Once in the hallway Tippens refused to walk forcing the deputies to drag him out of the courthouse to the jail. Along the way, Tippens screamed racial slurs at Chief Deputy Patrick, using the “N” word. He further threatened to kill the Chief Deputy’s kids and wife and burn down his home. Tippens also threatened Officer Pack. All this behavior was in plain view of the public according to Sheriff Ray.

Tippens’ last brush with the law was on March 27 when a deputy had to chase him down on foot after Tippens tried to avoid being arrested.

In that case Tippens was charged with resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest. His bond is  on that charge is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance on April 11.

Sheriff Ray said that on March 27 a deputy approached Tippens on College Street in Liberty to serve active warrants against him. When told he would have to go to jail, Tippens ran from the deputy trying to get away. The deputy gave chase for about 100 yards before catching up with Tippens and placing him in custody.

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