Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A 25-year-old Beaumont man who previously served on the Groves City Council was indicted this week on charges of assaulting a peace officer and trying to escape custody.

The allegations stem from a May 29 incident when Beaumont Police Department officers were called to a residence in the 5700 block of Northwest Parkway.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Cross Coburn reportedly intervened when an officer attempted to place another individual in wrist restraints.

He then shoved the officer to the ground, causing him to hit his head on a wall, then got on top of the officer, police said.

The document states the officer tried to place Coburn under arrest, commanding him to get on the ground. The officer then used his conducted energy weapon, but Coburn allegedly continued the disturbance.

Both men stood up and Coburn put the officer in a headlock, then fled the area back to his apartment and locked the door, authorities said.

Another officer arrived and a lengthy standby, Coburn came out of the apartment and was placed in a patrol unit.

Coburn is charged with assault of a peace officer and escape while arrested.

Coburn was arrested with bonds totaling $37,000 and bonded out the same day, according to information from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Coburn made national news and was the topic of a Texas Monthly article, “Catfishing and Conspiracy” in Groves in 2018.

Revealing photos of Coburn were sent anonymously to Groves City Hall and the Port Arthur News. A cover letter with contact information for Coburn, who was 19 at the time, had the statement “Is this in any way proper behavior of a councilman to represent himself online or a ‘dating’ app? I felt the city council should be made aware of the situation.”

The openly gay councilman believed he was “catfished” or lured by a person with a fake identity and that the revealing photos were not published on the Internet but privately through a dating app.

The issue led to Coburn being recalled from his position on council.