An Ottumwa woman is facing charges following a late-night incident involving police on April 16.
At approximately 11:23 p.m., officers with the Ottumwa Police Department were dispatched to the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue, where they were attempting to take a co-defendant into custody.
According to a criminal complaint, while officers—who were fully uniformed—were in the process of making the arrest, 35-year-old Ornin Kwachi allegedly intervened. Court documents state that Kwachi grabbed an officer and pulled them away from the individual being arrested. Authorities say she did not have any legal right or justification to make physical contact with the officer, and the action was considered offensive.
Following the incident, Kwachi was taken into custody. However, officials report that Kwachi resisted officers while being escorted to a patrol vehicle, attempting to pull away from their grasp. Authorities also noted that Kwachi refused to walk, requiring officers to physically guide her to the vehicle.
Kwachi is currently being held at the Wapello County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.
Kwachi is charged with interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor, and assault on persons in certain occupations, an aggravated misdemeanor. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for April 24.
Editors Note: All information was obtained from court documents related to the ongoing investigation.
