Deputy fires twice in struggle; no one hit

A corporal with the Jefferson County sheriff's office opened fire twice during a struggle with a suspect in a domestic-battery case early Tuesday, but both shots missed and the man escaped, authorities said.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

The sheriff's deputy was not named pending an investigation into the shooting. The man he was trying to arrest was identified as Demetrius Ruff Jr. Ruff, 23, is wanted on charges of second-degree battery on a police officer and third-degree battery.

The deputy works as a courtesy law enforcement officer at the Greenwood Manor Apartment complex, where he responded along with a Pine Bluff police officer to a reported domestic disturbance in one unit around 7:30 a.m., Maj. Lafayette Woods Jr. said in a released statement. The complex is at 3200 S. Fir St. in Pine Bluff.

The two lawmen found a woman bleeding from her face and found Ruff in a rear bedroom, the statement said. The deputy tried to arrest him, but "Ruff refused and a struggle ensued between the two," Woods wrote.

"The corporal fell during the struggle at which time he reported being struck in the face by Ruff at least two times," Woods wrote. "The corporal responded by drawing his service weapon and discharging two [shots] missing Ruff."

The corporal was said to be dazed but not seriously injured. The Pine Bluff officer required medical attention and stitches for injuries he received during the struggle, the statement said.

Ruff ran away and was not found.

State Desk on 04/13/2017

Upcoming Events