December 17, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
An Alexandria man with Hepatitis C who fought Smithville Police and a County deputy while being placed under arrest last week is facing several charges including criminal exposure after spitting in the faces of two officers.
28 year old Andrew Dayton West of Tramel Branch Road is charged by Smithville Police with driving under the influence, assault, stop/halt/frisk, driving on a revoked license, vandalism, criminal exposure, and he was cited for speeding, and violations of the seatbelt law, financial responsibility, and misuse of registration. His bond on these charges is $25,500.
As WJLE reported last week, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department charged West with assault on an officer and has now charged him with an additional count of criminal exposure. His bond for those offenses is $15,000. West will make a court appearance on all the charges December 20.
The incident unfolded on Monday, December 10 as police spotted West traveling 51 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour speed zone. West increased his speed to 57 miles per hour as he passed the officer before being pulled over. Upon stopping, West opened his door, began to step out, and started cussing the officer. West was ordered to stay in the vehicle and to show his hands but he reached for his phone. After the city officer took the phone from West and placed it on top of the car, West swung at him but instead hit the county deputy who was there assisting police. As both officers tried to restrain West he continued to resist but they were able to pull him out of the car and force him to the ground where he was placed in handcuffs. While being escorted to the patrol car, West spat blood in the face of both officers from a nose wound West had sustained during the altercation. Once the officers were able to get him in the patrol car, West began kicking the passenger back window. He kicked it so hard that the window and seal separated from the frame.
West was taken to the emergency room of the hospital to be examined for injuries and for a DUI blood draw. A check with Central Dispatch revealed that West has a revoked license for failure to pay fines. West also was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the traffic stop, had a license plate on the car that didn’t belong on it, and he couldn’t provide proof of insurance.
The officers West spat upon were also examined at the emergency room and later informed that West has Hepatitis C.