Linton man with a knife accused of intimidating an officer

A Linton police officer faced a tense situation last week when a man allegedly brandished a knife while he and the officer were faced off in a narrow store aisle.

Kevin Douglas Johnson

Kevin Douglas Johnson, 46, Linton, was arrested by Sgt. Logan Hobbs of the Linton Police Department last Wednesday, October 14. Johnson was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:46 p.m. with bond set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of today, Monday, October 19, Johnson has not yet posted bond and remains in jail.

Shortly before 12 noon last Wednesday, Sgt. Hobbs was dispatched to the Dollar General Store on A Street NW in Linton after a caller told LPD Dispatch that Kevin Johnson had previously been trespassed from Dollar General but was inside the store.

Sgt. Hobbs checked records which showed LPD Officer John Agan had informed Johnson back on August 2 that he was not allowed on Dollar General property and if he entered Dollar General property again, it would be a criminal offense.

When Sgt. Hobbs got to the store, he met with the store manager outside the store, then entered the store and found Johnson in an aisle.

Johnson was facing away from the officer when Sgt. Hobbs identified himself and told Johnson to go outside with him because he was trespassing.

Sgt. Hobbs reported that Johnson then turned toward him and he saw that Johnson was holding a folding pocket knife with the blade open in his right hand. Sgt. Hobbs said Johnson turned the knife with his hand in order for the blade to be broadsided to the officer with the point still pointed at the floor.

At this point, Johnson was approximately six feet away from the officer, who ordered him to drop the knife. Johnson did not drop it.

Johnson was ordered to drop the knife for the second time, and again did not drop it.

Sgt. Hobbs then used his police radio to request additional officers.

After he made the request, Johnson finally folded the knife closed and put it on a shelf.

Johnson was then ordered to the floor and he complied, was arrested and transported to jail.

In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Sgt. Hobbs, he wrote that, “The act of brandishing a knife to an officer in a narrow store aisle caused this officer to consider using deadly force to end the threat.”

No date has been set for when Johnson will appear in court for an initial hearing.

Charges filed against Johnson:

• Intimidation, a Level 6 felony, and

• Criminal trespassing, a Class A misdemeanor.