Press Release

Today a Logan County grand jury found Marcus R. Cobb guilty of two counts of assault on a police officer, felonies of the fourth degree, and two counts of obstructing official business, felonies of the fifth degree.

The case arose from events occurring in December of 2023. Bellefontaine Police Officer Andrew Purk stopped the car in which Cobb was a passenger and called Bellefontaine Police Officer Blake Kenner II for backup. When Cobb failed to immediately exit the vehicle when ordered to do so by Officer Purk and asked the officers if there was a warrant for his arrest, the officers physically removed Cobb from the car. A scuffle ensued in which according to the officers Cobb punched Kenner II and bit Purk. The officers struck back and tased Cobb who received treatment for his injuries in Mary Rutan Hospital. Neither officer received any medical treatment.

Judge Braig instructed the jury that it found Cobb presented evidence that tended to support the finding that Cobb used non-deadly force in self-defense, the State of Ohio had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cobb did not act in self-defense.
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The State of Ohio as represented by Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Yohey. Cobb was represented by defense counsel John Cunningham of Dayton, Ohio.