In an attempt to avoid being arrested, Johnny Simon wriggled his arms free of a deputy’s grasp and punched him in the face twice.

Simon was found guilty on Nov. 7 of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting an Officer with Violence. Simon is a prison release reoffender and is facing 10 years in prison.

He will be sentenced on Dec. 7.

Deputies received a call from a victim, claiming Simon held a knife to her neck before fleeing their house on a bicycle. When Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sanchez made an attempt to stop Simon, he reached for something in his back pocket.

Simon disregarded Sanchez’s commands to remove his hand from his pocket, and when Sanchez approached him, Simon shoved him. Sanchez attempted to arrest Simon, but he fought back and punched the deputy in the face.

A witness attempted to help Sanchez get Simon under control, but they were unsuccessful. Simon continually ignored the deputy’s commands to stop resisting, so Sanchez tased him.

After being tased, Simon remained violent. He was finally taken into custody after a second deputy arrived on scene to help.

Sanchez located a knife in Simon’s back right pocket.

We are thankful for the hard work and dedication of Assistant State Attorney Nicole Donnell in securing this conviction.