EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Two Evansville police officers were hospitalized after they were attacked by a young couple early Sunday morning.
According to a public police report, around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 17, Evansville police officers responded to the 200 block of West Delaware Street, near North Main and East Columbia streets, on a report of domestic battery.
Officers arrived and located two people, an 18-year-old man and 18-year-old woman, whom, according to police, are allegedly half-siblings in a romantic relationship. Initial reports indicated the man allegedly struck the woman prior to police arriving.
Officers attempted to place the man under arrest, but police said the man attacked the officers. The public police report says the man repeatedly "struck and battered officers while physically resisting arrest."
The woman later joined her half-brother/boyfriend in the attack, according to the police report, which says she allegedly kicked and injured two officers. The woman allegedly pleaded with officers to free her boyfriend.
According to the public police report, the man was in violation of a protective order and had violated the order previously. Officers said the woman was intoxicated at the time of the incident.
(NOTE: 13News does not name suspects until charges have been filed by prosecutors.)
In a post on social media following the incident, the Evansville Lodge #73 Fraternal Order of Police said, "There is a war on law enforcement and we will not tolerate it." The FOP attached a written statement to the post that read, in part:
"On Dec. 17, 2023, two officers from the Evansville Police Department were deliberately and violently attacked while responding to a reported domestic violence situation. The injuries sustained are serious and could have lifelong effects.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the two officers as they undergo the process of rest and healing. This unfortunate incident underscores the dangers that officers face daily while working to keep the Evansville community safe."
Police said one officer was hospitalized with a broken orbital bone, had loss of vision in one eye, as well as swelling behind the eye socket.