Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter has elaborated more on the New Year’s Day arrest of 18 year old Brett Hansman.
In a press release, Carter says Officers from the Carmi Police Department responded to a report of an active domestic dispute near the area of Eighth and Sycamore Streets in Carmi around 12:40 p.m. Wednesday. A white car had reportedly struck a trash can and narrowly struck a child in the roadway. Officers viewed some people in the back yard of 600 Eighth Street and a white car in the alley near the group. Officers also viewed a brown headed male in a dark hoodie and jeans who had blood all around his mouth and was yelling at the people in the yard. The male walked to the white car and got in.
Officers spoke with witnesses who advised that the male was looking for someone who was not at their trailer and he was acting “completely crazy.” The male, later identified as Brett Hansman, stuck his head out of the window of the vehicle and was yelling at the subjects. He then started to back up toward Officers and stopped. Hansman stepped out of the car and started walking toward the witnesses threatening them. He viewed the Officers and stopped and got back into the vehicle. Hansman then started to pull forward and Officers turned on the emergency lights. Hansman then pulled into a yard as if he was going to drive through the yards over to Seventh Street. He then turned back toward the alley and pulled into the alley vertically, slamming on his brakes and stopping. Hansman then threw the car in reverse and backed up. Officers then backed the squad car up as they thought Hansman might be trying to ram the squad car. Hansman then put the Impala in drive, spinning the tires in the grass. He then pulled in front of Officers in the alley and slammed on his brakes. Officers continued to verbally yell for him to stop as he had his window down and was yelling out of it.
Officers exited the squad car and started walking toward the driver’s side of the Impala. Hansman was yelling at the Officers. Hansman then pulled his car forward and stopped. He did this a few times while Officers continued to tell him to stop and speak with them. Hansman finally stopped the car. It was obvious to Police that Hansman was under the influence of something as he was talking out of his head and not making any sense. Officers, fearing Hansman was going to take off in the car again, reached in the car and turned off the ignition. Hansman then attempted to start the car up, but an Officer held on to the ignition and Hansman’s hand to prevent that. Hansman was able to pull the keys out of the ignition and continued to try and get the key back into the ignition as the Officer physically struggled to prevent it. The Officer had already requested back up to the scene as he was continuing to command Hansman to stop and he continued to struggle. The Officer deployed his Taser and the barbs made contact in the abdomen area of Hansman. Hansman yelled and then pulled the barbs out. The Officer attempted a drive stun to the abdomen of Hansman and he grabbed the Officer’s Taser. The Officer and Hansman then grappled over the possession of the Taser. Hansman punched the Officer in the chest and then came out of the car, the Taser still in the Officer’s hand and Hansman actively trying to take it. The Officer was able to gain control of the Taser and Hansman briefly sat down back in the driver’s seat of his car.
Hansman was again advised that he was under arrest and to step out of the car. Hansman refused to follow orders and another brief struggle ensued. The Officer continued to engage in verbal commands for Hansman to get out of the car and get on the ground. Hansman continued to talk out of his head as the Officer continued to await back up. A citizen arrived to assist the Officer as a Deputy from the White County Sheriff’s Department arrived to assist. Officers continued to give Hansman commands to get out of the car. Hansman started threatening the Officers saying he was going to kill them. The Officers deployed a Taser two more times and eventually got Hansman outside of the vehicle and to the ground. Hansman started swinging at the Officers and at some point during the struggle struck a Sheriff’s Deputy in the head with an unknown object. Another Carmi Police Officer arrived to assist. The Officers continued to struggle with Hansman while continuing to give him verbal commands. Hansman bit the second Carmi Officer’s right forearm as the Officer placed a handcuff on Hansman’s right hand. Hansman was also spitting blood on the Officers and continued to say he was going to kill the Officers and the citizen who was assisting Officers.
Officers were eventually able to get Hansman handcuffed and continued to struggle with fighting Hansman to get him into the vehicle. Hansman had to be forced into the back of the squad car as he was still actively resisting and kicking Officers. Hansman was transported to the City/County Jail where he continued to fight Officers. He was eventually placed into a restraint chair where White County Ambulance Paramedics were able to administer medication to subdue Hansman before he was eventually able to be transported to the hospital for what was believed to be Excited Delirium due to the drugs that had been ingested. Hansman was treated at Hamilton Memorial Hospital and later released and transported back to the City/County jail.
The Deputy was transported by private vehicle to the Emergency Room for treatment where he was later released.
Hansman was charged with reckless driving, three counts of aggravated battery, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and illegal possession of cannabis in a vehicle.
