Toledo man guilty of assault on officer

12/19/2007

A Toledo man charged with striking a police lieutenant with the mirror of his moving vehicle was found guilty yesterday of assault on a police officer and failure to comply with an officer's signal.

Mark Thompson, 47, of 2708 Robinwood Ave., pleaded no contest to the charges in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. Additional charges of felonious assault and failure to comply will be dismissed by Judge Gary Cook during his Jan. 9 sentencing.

According to Assistant County Prosecutor Ian English, Toledo police officers observed Thompson engaged in a possible drug transaction during the early morning hours of July 31. Members of the department's vice bike patrol approached Thompson's vehicle and ordered him to get out.

Thompson instead drove off, striking a police lieutenant in the forearm with the driver's-side mirror. Lt. Mike Troendle suffered pain but no permanent damage, Mr. English said.

Officers on bikes and in patrol cars pursued Thompson, who ran several lights and traveled at speeds in excess of 50 mph, Mr. English said. He was arrested after the chase.