EPD Officer injured during investigation into suspicious person at Fairlawn Elementary School

An Evansville Police Officer was injured while investigating a complaint of a suspicious person at Fairlawn Elementary School. The officer was sent to the school around 6:50 on Wednesday morning when a school employee called to report LOGAN STIDHAM was at the front doors acting suspicious. The employee asked Stidham why he was at the school and he replied he had a child in daycare there. The employee knew that to be false and called 911.
The responding officer located Stidham near the school and attempted to question him. Stidham was uncooperative and would not comply with the officers instructions or identify himself.
When the officer tired to handcuff Stidham, he pulled away. The officer deployed his TASER, but it was unsuccessful in subduing Stidham. A physical altercation between the officer and Stidham resulted in the two wrestling on the ground. As Stidham resisted, the officer was able to call for assistance.
Stidham was able to gain control of the officer’s TASER and discharged it as he held it against the officer’s face.
Stidham lost control of the TASER, but ended up on top of the officer. While pinned on his back, the officer was able to partially control Stidham’s hands and wrist. He was able to do so until another officer arrived.
Stidham refused to let the officer up. Another TASER was used, but was also ineffective. The second officer then used physical force to stop Stidham’s actions. As other officers arrived, Stidham continued to ignore instructions. Additional force was used. Stidham was eventually taken into custody.
The officer received facial injuries during the assault. He was treated at a local hospital and released. Stidham was examined at a local hospital and then booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail. He is charged with:
Battery with a Deadly Weapon
Battery with Serious Bodily Injury
Resisting Law Enforcement
Trespass
Theft