LAKE CITY, Fla. – Two officers questioning a man over parking in a handicapped spot at a Lake City apartment complex on Thursday turns into a scuffle. After the driver was subdued, the officers reported finding cocaine on him and a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition under the seat of his car.
According to the Lake City Police Department, Sgt. Larry Shallar and Officer Matthew Waddington were on a foot patrol of Cedar Park Apartments in Lake City when they saw a vehicle parked in a handicapped parking space. Since the vehicle had no placard or handicapped license plate visible, the officers approached. The driver, later identified as 22-year-old Matthew Judson, jumped out and began insisting the car wasn't his.
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As officers approached the black Chevrolet sedan, Judson jumped from the vehicle and began immediately professing that the vehicle was not his. Sgt. Shallar requested Judson's identification while investigating the handicapped parking violation (a state law requiring vehicles stopped or standing in marked handicapped spaces to display a placard or special license plate, or be actively transporting someone with a qualifying disability). After identifying Judson, officers began to question him regarding the violation.
When questioned, Judson initially said he was dropping someone off, but his passenger, Elisea Ray, said that they had been parked for an extended period of time. At some point during the conversation, Judson consented to be searched, but when officers began to pat him down, he suddenly backed up and began swinging at officers. Officers said they attempted to restrain Judson, who continued to swinging his arms violently and attempting to free himself. After a short scuffle on the ground, Judson was finally subdued after Waddington threatened to use his Taser gun.
After Judson as arrested, a search turned up 1.25 grams of cocaine on him and the gun and bullets under the driver seat of his car.
Waddington suffered an abrasion on his knee and fingernail scratches on his neck during the scuffle including. He was treated and released to full duty.
Judson was booked into the Columbia County Jail and charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of cocaine, possession of narcotic equipment and violation of probation. Judson was ordered held without bond.