Woman who hit police sergeant gets probation

2/28/2008

A Toledo woman who tried to pull a police sergeant from a teen he was trying to arrest was sentenced to two years probation and 50 hours of community service in Lucas County Common Pleas Court yesterday.

Lula Barnes, 46, of 35 City Park Ave. pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. She originally had been indicted on a felony assault charge.

Judge Gene Zmuda also sentenced her to six months in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, but that was suspended.

Under the felony charge - filed because the victim was a police officer - Ms. Barnes could have been sentenced to up to 18 months in prison.

Ms. Barnes was in a group arrested Sept. 3 for blocking vehicles on a central Toledo street. Ms. Barnes punched the sergeant in the shoulder and tried to bite him, a report said.