San Angelo Man Gets Probation for Head-Butting Cop

SAN ANGELO, TX — A San Angelo man who head-butted a police officer has taken a plea deal.

James Prater, 44, of San Angelo, has taken a plea deal for Assault of a Peace Officer after climbing on top of a closed business and head-butting a responding police officer.

According to court documents, on July 16, 2023, San Angelo police responded to the 700 block of Knickerbocker Road as a call note indicated that an unknown male, who was identified as Prater, was on the roof of a closed business and screaming.

Police thought he was possibly on narcotics and upon their arrival to the scene, Prater had come down off the roof and ran from officers. When Prater was taken into custody, after a brief foot pursuit, he head-butted one of the officers in the face. The officer who was assaulted was in his full patrol uniform, on duty, and conducting police duties when Prater assaulted him.

Prater was taken to Shannon for treatment of possible psychological issues.

Prater was arrested and booked into the Tom Green County Jail on July 16, 2023, and was released on July 18, 2023, on $35,000 bond. In exchange for a guilty plea, Prater was sentenced to 10 years probation with a 10-year probated prison sentence and a fine of $2,500.