Man Sentenced For Assaulting Police Officer

A Harford County man convicted of partially blinding a police officer was sentenced in court Tuesday.  Jessica Kartalija reports the officer--who lost all vision in his left eye--addressed the courtroom with an impact statement delivered by his wife.

In May, sheriff's deputies responded to a call for an officer in distress in Joppa.  Deputies arrived on the scene and found an off-duty Baltimore City police officer bleeding profusely from the head.

Thirty-three-year-old Jermaine Cook, a 17-year veteran with City Police says he was on his way home when 20-year-old James Kimble flagged him down, accused him of speeding, then hit him with a beer mug.

In a Harford County courtroom, a statement read by Officer Cook's wife compared what happened to his eye to "placing a grape in a bag, cutting it and mashing it flat."

After four surgeries, Officer Cook lost vision in his left eye and won't be able to perform his duties as an officer.

In his sentencing hearing, defense attorney David Henninger said Kimble didn't mean to hurt Cook, saying, "I don't think anyone could call James a mean person.  He's not the criminal type."

Addressing the courtroom and Officer Cook, Kimble said, "I wish I could trade places with him."

Kimble, who was convicted of first degree assault, was sentenced to 25 years in prison with all but 12 suspended.

Kimble showed little reaction when his sentence was read.  His stepfather got up and left the courtroom.