A Springfield man is being held in the Stone County Jail without bond after a struggle on the riverbank in Galena in which he grabbed at a Crane police officer's holster and pulled a spare magazine from the officer's vest, according to court records.
John Franklin Manco is charged with attempted disarming a peace officer, sexual misconduct involving a child, and resisting arrest, according to a felony complaint filed Monday by Stone County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Weber. All three are class E felonies, each punishable by up to four years in prison, up to a year in county jail, or a fine of up to $10,000.
Judge Eric Chavez signed an arrest warrant on August 9 and ordered Manco held without bond; Stone County deputies served it to him while he was being held.
The sexual misconduct count carries a further consequence: a finding of guilty on this charge would subject Manco to a lifetime supervision under state law.
The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The report
Stone County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a Galena property at about 6:37 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, for a report of trespassing, according to a probable cause statement by Sgt. Leimkuehler. Dispatchers relayed that a man was becoming belligerent with staff and had exposed himself to a family near the river. Facing an extended response time, SCSO requested assistance from Crane PD.
A man fishing on a gravel bar told Leimkuehler he looked over and saw Manco with his shorts pulled down, exposed and facing in their direction from roughly 20 feet away. When the group confronted him about exposing himself in front of the juvenile, the witness said, Manco made a lewd gesture toward them before retreating to the riverbank and a wooded area beneath the bridge. Another witness supplied deputies with a video of the incident.
The arrest
Crane Police Officer Clark arrived first and found Manco squatting near the water, according to Clark's probable cause statement. Clark wrote that he, twice, ordered Manco to stand and come talk with him, and that Manco responded, saying he did not want to talk and was leaving. Clark took hold of Manco's left arm; when Manco pulled away, Clark wrote, he performed a "hip toss" that took Manco to the ground.
During the struggle that followed, Clark wrote that Manco grabbed at the release on his holster, then seized his keys and squeezed them. Clark wrote that he struck Manco's hand three times with a closed fist before Manco let go. Manco then pulled a magazine for Clark's duty weapon from his vest, and did not release until Clark struck his hand twice more. When Manco grabbed the keys a third time, Clark wrote he would use his taser. A staff member from the property helped hold Manco's right arm.
Manco continued struggling after both wrists were cuffed and began trying to kick him, Clark wrote, and was taken into custody at 6:53 pm. Leimkuehler wrote that Manco refused to answer questions after being read his Miranda rights.
