| Dresden man accused of shooting cop | | Posted: Friday, October 1, 2010 2:24 pm
| | A 24-year-old Dresden man is facing several felony charges after the attempted robbery of a Jackson business left a Jackson police officer recovering from a gunshot wound.
Christopher Lance Osteen was arraigned in Jackson earlier this week on charges of attempted murder, burglary, evading and resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm, theft of property under $500 and two counts of forgery.
Jackson Police officers were called to Old Country Store early Sunday morning after a burglar alarm was activated.
When they arrived on the scene, officers allegedly observed a suspect drop a bag of stolen items and take off on foot. Officers reportedly tackled Osteen to the ground after a foot pursuit.
According to media outlets, as officers were attempting to handcuff Osteen at the scene, he allegedly discharged a 9mm pistol striking 44-year-old Jackson officer Mark Headen in the forearm.
The officer was transported to a local hospital where he reportedly underwent surgery to repair bone and nerve damage.
A second officer, 25-year-old Thomas Brea, reportedly suffered minor injuries during the scuffle.
Photos of Osteen show bruising around his eyes, but he apparently had no significant injuries.
This was not the first time Osteen has been on the receiving end of handcuffs.
During a court appearance in Jackson City Court on Monday, Osteen reported that he was wanted in Weakley County on charges of failure to appear and theft of property.
He is also a wanted man in Fulton, Ky. for vehicle theft, receiving stolen property and being a persistent felony offender, which is related to an incident that occurred in April.
Osteen is also charged with theft of property and two counts of forgery related to an incident involving the theft of a 9 mm pistol and a box of checks in July.
The Old Country Store has been the recent target of more than 15 burglaries involving stolen food just within the last month, according to reports.
Investigators are not ruling out Osteen’s possible involvement with those burglaries as well as a string of other burglaries in the Jackson area recently.
He is being held on a $500,000 bond in Madison County. WCP 9.30.10 | | | | |
