A judge has postponed an arraignment hearing in the case of a man accused of beating a Denver police officer and trying to grab her gun.
Stephen Hamper, 27, was expected to enter a plea in Denver District Court on Thursday, but his attorney said he has new medical records that need to be presented to the district attorney. Denver District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Starrs granted their request and set a new arraignment hearing for Jan 22.
Hamper faces , one count of second-degree assault and one count of attempting to disarm a peace officer. All of the charges are felonies.
During his brief appearance on Thursday, Hamper stared down as he walked into the busy courtroom. A sheriff’s deputy remained less than a foot away from Hamper and led him out of the courtroom by grabbing the chain wrapped around his waist.
Hamper was arrested on Sept. 6 after who had attempted to contact him after she received reports of a man wandering into traffic and washing his clothes in a storm drain, according to a probable cause statement.
As the officer tried to place Hamper in restraints, he allegedly hit her in the face with a closed fist, knocked her to the ground and tried to grab her gun. Two people who saw the attack stopped to help the officer.
Additional officers arrived and placed Hamper into the back of a patrol car.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jsteffendp
