Amsterdam Police: Arrested man frees himself from handcuffs, breaks officer’s nose during transport

AMSTERDAM – A man arrested on warrants freed himself from handcuffs during transport Tuesday evening, then began fighting with an  officer, breaking the officer’s nose, police said.

The injured officer then ultimately continued working to get the man under control, before taking him back into custody, police said.

The officer was treated for his injuries at St. Mary’s Hospital, police said.

Roy D. Locklear, 28, of Division Street, faces one count each of second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief, felonies, as well as misdemeanor attempted escape and resisting arrest, police said.

The incident began just before 7 p.m. Tuesday on Thomas Street, police said. Two patrolmen there spotted Locklear walking and recognized him as wanted on two arrest warrants for failure to appear in court, police said.

The officers approached him and told him why he was being stopped. He then attempted to hide his identity by claiming to be someone else and also became resistant to police commands, police said.

The officers, however, got him into custody. But Locklear immediately began to strike the side of the patrol car with his body, damaging the car. He then refused to be placed in the car, continuing to struggle. Officers called additional units to the scene, police said.

They got Locklear into the back of the patrol car, but he continued to use his body to strike the side of the car, police said.

“While en route to police headquarters Locklear violently struggled to and was able to free one of his hands from the handcuffs and did punch out a rear window of the police car,” police said in a release. “Locklear then pulled himself out of the window and began to strike the side of the car with his fist.”

The officers stopped the vehicle o get him back into custody, but Locklear was then able to free himself completely from the vehicle.

He then slammed the car’s front passenger door as that officer attempted to exit.

“When the officer pushed back and was able to open the door Locklear with a closed fist struck the officer in his face resulting in the officer’s nose being broken,” police said in the release. “After being initially struck the officer continued to engage Locklear and took him to the ground apprehending him.”

Once back in police custody, he was taken to the station where he was processed and arraigned. Judge Lisa W. Lorman ordered him held without bail.

Locklear was also charged on a complaint stemming from a July 2020 incident in Amsterdam. He faces one count each of second-degree assault and fourth-degree conspiracy. The release did not detail the earlier incident further.

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