Norman — A Norman man faces criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted a police officer last week at a car wash on 12th Avenue SE.
Court records show Ricky Don Ruble was charged Monday in Cleveland County District Court with assault and battery upon police officer. He also was charged with public intoxication, a misdemeanor.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the charges, Norman police were summoned to 200 12th Ave SE about 1 p.m. Thursday about a possible drunk driver. The suspect was vacuuming his vehicle at the car wash.
Police said Ruble’s speech was slurred and he staggered. Ruble was irate and shouted at officers to leave him alone, according to the affidavit.
“I instructed him to not shout and he punched me in the face with a closed fist,” Officer Thomas Zermeno wrote in the affidavit.
Ruble told Zermeno and another officer that he had severe disabilities and that he had taken a Lortab earlier in the day, the affidavit stated.
“Ruble stated that he hit me because he was tired of listening to me,” Zermeno said.
Officers arrested Ruble and transported him to the Cleveland County Detention Center. A Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department employee said Ruble posted bond and was released from jail Friday.
Norman Police Master Officer Jennifer Newell said Zermeno has recovered from his injury.
According to court records, Ruble has previous felony convictions out of Oklahoma County for four counts of knowingly concealing stolen property, two counts of false declaration of ownership to a pawn shop, second-degree burglary, first-degree burglary and possession of controlled dangerous substances in March 1994. He was convicted of possession of contraband in a penal institution in July 1998 in Cleveland County.
Court records show Ruble has a preliminary hearing conference scheduled for 1 p.m. March 16.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
