ST. GEORGE — An officer reportedly was assaulted Monday evening when a family disturbance call turned into a violent struggle in front of an apartment complex north of Bluff Street.
Officers had responded to a report alleging a family disturbance at an apartment complex on East 1100 South shortly before 8:30 p.m. in St. George.
According to arrest documents filed with the courts, the caller stated that Skye Emma Lineback, 36, was screaming and becoming aggressive toward a family member.
The report states that Lineback raised her arms and “charged towards” the relative in a threatening manner.
When officers arrived, they found the suspect outside the complex and told her to stop. She continued to walk away as officers advised that they were there to investigate a possible domestic call.
During the encounter, the suspect was told she was not free to leave, but she began yelling and continued to walk down the street.
The officer attempted to stop Lineback by grabbing her shoulder, and the suspect reportedly shoved the officer, knocking the body camera from the officer’s vest.
During the tussle, the officer grabbed Lineback and pushed her against the cinderblock wall to contain her until backup arrived.
Meanwhile, the suspect reportedly used the wall as leverage to push the officer backward and then turned around and attempted to shove the officer away multiple times.
Once other officers arrived on scene, Lineback was taken into custody by police.
A passerby told police she stopped when she became concerned for the officer as Lineback was “watching an approaching car” and twice appeared to shove the officer into the street just as a car was nearing the scene.
The suspect was arrested and transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility facing a second-degree felony count of assault on a peace officer with force to produce death or injury. She also faces one count of assault and interfering with an arrest, each a misdemeanor.
The case was turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office to be reviewed for charges while the officer requested that Lineback be held without bail, a request that was approved by District Judge Keith C. Barnes on Tuesday morning. The suspect made an initial appearance in 5th District Court in St. George later that same afternoon.
When the case was filed the suspect was formally charged with three misdemeanors, including one count of assault on a police officer, failing to stop at command of law enforcement and assault.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.