Kasey R. Gilpin, 29, Alton, has been charged with first-degree assault, a felony, after he allegedly punched an Alton police officer in the head as the officer attempted to intervene during a domestic altercation.
Officer Michael Bunting, in a statement submitted to prosecutors, said on Thursday he had been called to a home regarding a possible domestic assault, and when he knocked on the door on arrival, he heard a man yelling.
When the officer looked into the house through a window, he saw a man on his knees shoving or hitting a person on a couch. When he opened the door and stepped in, he reported, he saw Gilpin shoving a person against the back of the couch.
Bunting reported he shouted at Gilpin to get off of the person, and Gilpin stood and charged at the officer, shoving him backward against a wall and punching him in the head. He said he then shoved Gilpin off of him and got his pepper spray gun, but Gilpin kept charging at him, hitting the officer’s hand and preventing him from putting enough distance between himself and the suspect to use the pepper spray.
During the incident, the officer asked the victim to call the sheriff's department to send backup, but she said Gilpin had broken her phone and she couldn't use it, he reported.
After Gilpin walked out of the house, Bunting said he was able to get to his own phone to call for backup, and followed Gilpin out the door because he was walking toward the officer's patrol car. The officer said he continued to maintain his distance while waiting for other law enforcement to arrive.
While Bunting waited for other officers, Gilpin reportedly threw firewood at the porch, began pacing, went to his vehicle and got a beer, then attempted to run onto the porch to reach the victim. Bunting said he pointed the pepper spray gun at Gilpin and the man backed off before surrendering to the officer.
After the arrest and on the way to the Dent County Jail, Bunting reported, the suspect threatened to go to the officer's house and “deal” with him, in addition to making threats that appeared to be directed toward Bunting's minor children before again making a threat to go to the officer's house.
Court records show Gilpin has not posted bond, having waived a bond hearing until he has legal representation, and has not completed his application for public defender. A stipulation has been placed on the $50,000 bond that he have no contact with Bunting. A review, case setting and counsel status hearing has been set for this morning in the courtroom of Associate 37th Circuit Judge Harvey Shane Allen in Oregon County. The case is being prosecuted by Oregon County Prosecutor Justin Kelley.
