Courtland woman jailed for assaulting officers

Published 11:36 am Wednesday, October 4, 2017

FRANKLIN
A Courtland woman is in custody on charges of assaulting Franklin Police officers in the WalMart on Armory Drive early Sunday evening. This information comes from Capt. Tim Whitt, spokesman for the city police department.

Officers were called to Wal-Mart at 6:30 in reference to a person trespassing.

Upon arrival, the suspect misidentified herself to the officer in an effort to avoid arrest. Her identity was established and it was learned that she had outstanding warrants. As the officer was taking Keisasha Lankford, 23, into custody, she called out to a family member who began to interfere with the arrest.

The officer instructed Ashley Lankford, 26, to cease her interference and leave the store. As the officer was walking his prisoner outside to his car, Ashley Lankford again began to interfere with him. When the officer told her she was under arrest, Lankford ran to a car and jumped inside. As other officers were attempting to arrest her, she kicked an officer multiple times in the chest and attempted to bite another officer.

Lankford was taken into custody and removed from the car where she attempted to flee. Lankford also struggled against being placed in a patrol car. During the struggle two vehicles were damaged that were parked beside her vehicle.

Once at the police department, Ashley Lankford’s out-of-control behavior was so egregious she could not be taken before a magistrate. Lankford also spit all over the inside the holding cell she was in. Both subjects were remanded to Western Tidewater Regional Jail.

Ashley Lankford received no bond, and was charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, fleeing from law enforcement and two counts of destruction of property.

Keisasha Lankford, who has three charges of trespassing, received a $1,500 secured bond.