NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 31-year-old Kendall Deshawn Murphy pleaded guilty on Oct. 31 after assaulting an officer while being arrested for shoplifting at a Norfolk Dollar General, a release states.
On May 6, Murphy walked into the Dollar General store at 8474 Chesapeake Blvd. wearing a trench coat, and he began stuffing his pockets with various items. A store clerk called Norfolk Police, and an officer arrived at the store to arrest Murphy.
When the officer told Murphy that he was under arrest, Murphy pushed the officer and ran.
The officer pursued Murphy, grabbing him by his trench coat in the store parking lot, and taking him to the ground.
Murphy tried to fight the officer. He struck him in the face, breaking the officer’s glasses and reaching for the officer’s pistol. Fortunately, another patrol officer who had been driving by the store intervened and helped to detain Murphy.
The officers charged Murphy with felony assault of a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, and multiple misdemeanors including petit larceny and destruction of property.