An Illinois man has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer after an incident late Friday night, according to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
According to DCSO, deputies were dispatched to a welfare check Friday night for a male subject who was walking in the roadway on Veach Road.
Upon arrival, deputies located Josh Cliff, 31, of Decatur, Ill. According to reports, the subject was not cooperative with deputies and they attempted to detain him, at which time Cliff assaulted a deputy and attempted to flee on foot.
Deputies were able to capture Cliff and take him into custody.
According to DCSO, almost immediately after deputies were able to get him into handcuffs and while still struggling with him, Cliff produced a handgun which had been concealed. Deputies managed to wrestle the firearm away from Cliff before he was able to fire the weapon.
Cliff was searched further and discovered to be in possession of suspected cocaine.
Due to this incident and the assault, one deputy was injured and transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital to be treated for a possible broken nose.
Cliff was arrested and transported to Daviess County Detention Center.
He was charged with:
- Attempted murder of a police officer
- Resisting arrest
- Third-degree assault of a police officer
- Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon
- Fleeing or evading police (on foot)
- First-degree possession of a controlled substance (cocaine)
- Second-degree possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified)
Officers with the Owensboro Police Department and Kentucky State Police also assisted with the incident.
