Springfield Police said only necessary force was used in a Saturday evening arrest involving a physical struggle with officers.
Police responded to the 2200 block of Yale Boulevard to a report of a man striking and choking a dog. Police found 32-year-old K’Shawn Rush lying in a yard with the dog. Rush reportedly refused commands to release the dog and threatened officers, then physically attacked his girlfriend when she tried to take the dog.
Police said Rush struggled with officers for several minutes and removed equipment from their duty vests before pepper spray was used to take him into custody. Rush was taken to a local hospital for treatment, then transported to the Sangamon County Jail.
He was formally charged on Monday with aggravated battery, domestic battery and cruelty to an animal. Body cam video is on the Springfield Police transparency page on the city website (Springfield Police Department City of Springfield – Home of Abraham Lincoln ) and at WMAY.com.
