JC man gets 20 years in assault case

A Jefferson City man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with a fight with a police officer in May 2017.

William Bagby III, 30, pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree domestic assault, resisting arrest, attempting to disarm an officer and fourth-degree assault in a hearing before Special Judge Robert Schollmeyer.

Officers responded to the 100 block of North Ventura after a relative of Bagby's called 911 believing he had taken an overdose of pills and was suicidal, according to a Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement.

Bagby was being sought because he had a felony warrant out for his arrest for first-degree domestic assault. In that case, he was accused of attacking a woman in May 2017 at the Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City. Authorities said he had choked the woman until she passed out and suffered a mini-stroke. Bagby pleaded guilty to this charge, which was added to the police officer fight case.

When officers arrived at North Ventura, Babgy fled to the rear of the residence then tried to run behind some buildings, but his path was blocked by a wall. Bagby turned back and faced one of the officers, who had his gun displayed and ordered Bagby to the ground.

He got on the ground, then jumped up and charged the officer. He attempted to grab the officer's gun, but the officer was able to reholster the weapon.

Bystanders and other officers helped detain Bagby until he was placed in a patrol vehicle.