60-year-old Jeffery Ray Ward needed medical assistance at Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk on July 20th. Officers Ferrari, Ehman, and Balbi were flagged down by security at the establishment regarding the occurrence. When officers arrived, they located Ward and were advised by complainants that he may have had a seizure, so officers requested medics. During their interaction, officers noticed that Ward was visibly intoxicated, reeking of alcohol, and was uncooperative with everyone, including the group he was with. Ward began cursing at his acquaintances, pushing their arms away, and shoving them as they tried to help escort him to the Medical UTV. While on the rooftop, Ward threatened law enforcement, expressing his intentions to fight them while they continued assisting him. Ward’s acquaintances walked him outside to the UTV because he was impaired, and they did not want him to be arrested for his behavior. Ward then refused medical attention, so the medics left.
After this, officers observed his friend group having a hard time controlling him and that he appeared as if he was on the verge of being assaultive with them. Ward then had a medical emergency where he either fainted or had a seizure, causing officers to call medics back to the location. When they returned, Ward continued to refuse medical treatment, remained unruly, and, at one point, told Officers Ehman and Ferrari that he would shoot them if they tried arresting him. Ward was then deemed a danger to himself, and when officers went to handcuff him, he tensed up, refusing to put his hands behind his back until they detained him. During a subsequent search, officers discovered a loaded, black .38 Smith & Wesson with four unspent rounds in a black holster and four pills in a baggy, later identified as Oxycodone. While searching him, Ward was irate and started spitting on Officer Ferrari, so he used his palm to keep Ward’s face away from him, which was when he bit Officer Ferrari’s hand, leaving a visible mark. In response, to maintain control, Officer Ferrari pushed him toward the patrol car because he was still tensed up, trying to face him and disregarding his commands. Ward was taken into custody for simple possession, public intoxication, weapon possession while under the influence, resisting arrest, and two counts of assault on an officer on July 21st.
![Jeffery Ray Ward (MNPD)](https://www.scoopnashville.com/media/2024/07/Jeffery-Ward-MNPD.png)
Jeffery Ray Ward of Crestview Drive in Franklin, KY, was booked into the Metro Nashville Jail on July 21st, charged with assault of an officer, resisting arrest, weapon under the influence, public intoxication, and simple possession. A judicial commissioner set his bond at $19,500, and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office gave him pre-trial release from their facility.
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