Man attacked KCPD officer with a metal chair

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man has been charged with assaulting and seriously injuring a Kansas City Police officer who was working at a downtown store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jorge I. Arroyo, 40, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

According to court documents, police were called to Cosentino’s Downtown Market on East 13th Street shortly after 8:15 a.m. on June 30 to assist an officer.

A sergeant was wearing his uniform while off work and was assaulted by a man after the officer asked him to leave the store and left the man’s belongings outside the store.

The officer told police he asked Arroyo to leave after being told he had been caught stealing earlier. Arroyo became angry, picked up a metal chair and hit the officer in the head. The officer fell to the ground as Arroyo continued to hit him. The officer radioed for help. Customers and store employees held the defendant down until other officers arrived. Witnesses told police they saw Arroyo waving the chair at the officer. The officer underwent surgery for a laceration to his head and required up to 30 stitches. He also injured his hand.

Arroyo remains in jail on $150,000 bail.