Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement, Reaching for Officer’s Gun After Officer Placed Him Under Arrest for Shoplifting
NORFOLK, Va. — Kendall Deshawn Murphy, 31, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to felony assault of a law enforcement officer and attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer as well as misdemeanor larceny and destruction of property after he fought and reached for the gun of an officer who was arresting him for shoplifting earlier this year.
On May 6, Mr. Murphy walked into the Dollar General store at 8474 Chesapeake Blvd. wearing a trench coat, and he began stuffing his pockets with various items. A store clerk called Norfolk Police, and Officer Joshua Jacob arrived at the store to arrest Mr. Murphy. When Officer Jacob told Mr. Murphy that he was under arrest and prepared to place Mr. Murphy in handcuffs, Mr. Murphy pushed the officer and ran.
Officer Jacob ran after Mr. Murphy, grabbed him by his trench coat in the store parking lot, and took Mr. Murphy to the ground. Mr. Murphy tried to fight the officer off for about five minutes — striking the officer twice in his face, breaking his glasses, and grabbing at his service pistol that was secured in its holster. Officer Jacob was unable to call for backup, and another patrol officer who had been driving by the store intervened and helped to detain Mr. Murphy.
The officers charged Mr. Murphy with felony assault of a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, and multiple misdemeanors including petit larceny and destruction of property.
On Tuesday, Mr. Murphy entered an agreement to plead guilty to those four charges and face an active prison sentence of up to three years and eight months. In exchange for Mr. Murphy’s guilty pleas, the Commonwealth agreed to dismiss his additional misdemeanor charges. Judge David W. Lannetti accepted Mr. Murphy’s plea agreement and set his sentencing hearing on Jan. 10, 2025.
“Mr. Murphy engaged in extremely dangerous conduct, and I am relieved that the officer in this case was not badly hurt,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We owe Officer Jacob a debt of thanks for putting his own safety on the line, all alone, to keep us safe. Had Mr. Murphy cooperated with the officer, everyone would have been better off. He did not, and his sentence will reflect his choice.”
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily A. Woodley is prosecuting Mr. Murphy’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth.
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