People v. Stafford

Opinion by

Judge CASEBOLT.

Defendant, Troy Stafford, appeals a judgment of conviction entered on a jury verdict finding him guilty of two counts of second degree assault. We reverse and remand.

Defendant was arrested on suspicion of automobile theft. At the police station, the arresting officer handcuffed defendant with his hands behind his back because of his “belligerence and threatening comments” and placed him in a holding cell. Defendant maneuvered his hands so that they were cuffed in front of him and he reached through the portal of his holding cell and grabbed the bag containing his…