July 18, 2020
A 23-year-old protester from Lawrence, Kan., has been charged in the assault of a law enforcement officer Friday night at KCPD police headquarters, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Preston T. Foster, dob: 5/29/1997, faces two misdemeanor counts of Assault 4th Degree and Resisting Arrest.*
According to court documents filed today, a Kansas City police officer was injured when he attempted to exit police headquarters during protests there Friday night, but Foster prevented the officer from leaving through the door, repeatedly slamming the officer’s hand in the door, the officer told detectives. The protester told police he attempted to brace the door to keep police from exiting headquarters through the door. Police tried to arrest the protester after the officer was injured at the door, but the defendant ran. After a second attempt to run away, he was arrested.
Prosecutors recommended the defendant be released on his own recognizance.
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.
