POPE COUNTY (KFSM) — A Pope County man is behind bars after he allegedly fired a shotgun at two Pope County deputies, striking one of them in the forehead, on Sunday (Aug. 28).
Robert Baird is facing charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and felon in possession of a firearm, according to a department post.
On Sunday, deputies were responding to a disturbance on Waldo Lane in Dover when Baird fired a shotgun toward the officers, the post states. Two of the deputies took shelter behind a trailer after getting hit by shrapnel and called for reinforcements. One of the officers was hit in the forehead, which caused bleeding and bruises.
Eventually Baird was apprehended without any further injuries to officers.
He was taken to the Pope County Detention Center, where he is being held on a $150,000 bond.
“I am so grateful that the officers were not more seriously injured,” Sheriff Shane Jones said in the post. “This was a bad situation that very easily could’ve turned into a tragedy. Each day our officers face situations that may turn deadly at any moment. Thankfully, their training and quick action enabled them to return home to their families at the end of their shift.”
