By Mike Fletcher
Archie Robertson, the man who allegedly rammed an unmarked detective’s car and was shot at by police Thursday, was officially charged with three felonies Friday.
Kokomo police reports show Robertson, 35, was charged with a Class B felony attempted aggravated battery, a C felony criminal recklessness and C felony carrying a handgun while being a convicted felon as a result of Thursday’s arrest.
Robertson was also wanted on a Howard County warrant for failure to appear on a charge of purchase of more than 3 grams of a precursor and a Tipton County hold stemming from a meth arrest earlier this year.
Kokomo police had been looking for Robertson on the warrants and got a break when Detective James Nielson saw Robertson driving in a gray pickup truck in the area of Wabash and Woodland avenues and tried to stop him.
Robertson allegedly rammed Nielson’s unmarked car prompting Nielson to fire three rounds at the truck, according to police reports.
Two of the gun shots hit the truck’s tailgate and the third struck a tool box in the truck’s bed, police reported.
After the shots were fired, Robertson then fled and led officers on a brief chase before being captured in the 700 block of South Webster Street.
During the arrest, officers say they found drugs and drug paraphernalia. Police also found two handguns on the seat of his truck, according to reports.
Robertson is currently being held in the Howard County jail awaiting his arraignment.
If convicted on all three charges, he could face up to 36 years in prison.
Nielson is on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal professional standards investigation into the shooting, which is procedure when an officer is involved in a shooting.
• Mike Fletcher is the Kokomo Tribune crime reporter. He can be reached at 765-454-8565 or mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com.
