BENTONVILLE -- A Bella Vista woman was placed on probation for battery in an incident where she hit and kicked at a police officer and ordered her dog to bite the officer.
April Branson pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree battery, along with resisting arrest and obstructing governmental operations. A plea agreement was reached between attorney Veronica Bryant and Sam Martin, deputy prosecutor.
Branson was arrested Sept. 18.
V.J. Wilson, a Bella Vista police officer, went to Branson's home to serve an arrest warrant on a man. Wilson was arresting the man when Branson came outside her home, according to court documents.
She intervened in the arrest and police eventually arrested her, according to court documents.
Branson hit and kicked at Wilson during the incident and she ordered her mixed breed Chihuahua to bite the officer, according to the probable cause affidavit. The dog bit Wilson on both legs. The bites broke the skin, according to court documents.
Branson threatened the officers if they touched her dog. Another police officer attempted to catch the dog, but it ran into a wooded area.
Wilson was treated at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville, according to court documents.
The battery charge concerns Branson hitting and kicking at Wilson.
Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement and Branson's guilty pleas.
Branson was placed on state-supervised probation for three years under Act 346, which means her case will be expunged if she successfully completes probation.
NW News on 03/04/2015