Bonds set at $200,000 for man who tried to break into officers home

Bond is set at $200,000 for a man who reportedly tried to break into an off duty officers home and subsequently assaulted the officer before being shot.

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office received a request from the Port Arthur Police Department for assistance in an investigation involving an off duty PAPD officer who was confronted by an intruder attempting to gain into his home early Thursday morning, according to a press release from the DA’s office.

An independent subsequent criminal investigation conducted by the DA’s investigator division showed Officer Ahmaal Bodden encountered the suspect, identified as David Wayne James, at approximately 12:41 a.m. just outside the front door of his residence.

James is charged with burglary of a habitation and aggravated assault. Bonds were set at $100,000 for each charge.

PAPD will conduct and handle its own internal investigation.

Bodden, who is an 11-year veteran of the police force, was at home with his family at the time of the incident.

PAPD Chief Mark Blanton said Bodden was woken by the sound of breaking glass and discovered the man on his front porch. Bodden confronted the man and subsequently the suspect was shot once in the hip/pelvic area and received treatment at Christus Hospital-St. Elizabeth in Beaumont.

Per department procedures Bodden has been placed on administrative leave and is required to meet with a department psychologist, which is standard procedure.

E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com

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