TULIA DEFENDANT IS ARRESTED IN ASSAULT

Incident Involving Officer In Pampa Came Four Days After Release

One of the 12 Tulia drug defendants freed from prison last week because of
questions surrounding their convictions following a 1999 drug sting has
been charged with assaulting a Pampa police officer.

Christopher Eugene Jackson, 31, was back behind bars Monday for allegedly
punching the officer, evading arrest and being intoxicated in public. He
was arrested after fleeing from authorities Friday morning.

The arrest came four days after he and 11 others were freed from custody
during a bail hearing in Swisher County. During the hearing, retired state
District Judge Ron Chapman urged the 12 to avoid run-ins with the law.

Attorney Mitch Zamoff said Mr. Jackson has a heart condition that causes
him to occasionally black out and act irrationally. He said that could
explain his client's behavior.

"We are still gathering information about the alleged incident," Mr. Zamoff
said. "My understanding at this point is that there are no allegations
relating to drugs and that Mr. Jackson's medical condition may have been a
factor."

Police Chief Trevlyn Pitner told The Pampa News that officers on Friday
went to check on a report of a suspicious man, "possibly intoxicated," who
was standing in the road yelling at cars on U.S. Highway 60.

When officers approached him, he said, the man ran.

An officer was punched in the face and head while taking the man into
custody, Gray County Sheriff Don Copeland said Monday. The officer was
treated for minor injuries and released from a nearby hospital, he said.
Mr. Jackson was taken to the hospital for evaluation because of his
behavior, Chief Pitner said. Gray County Chief Deputy Kelly Rushing said
alcohol was not involved.

Mr. Jackson was arraigned on the charges this weekend and remained in the
Gray County Jail on Monday. Bail was set at $5,000.

Rod Hobson, a special prosecutor in the Tulia cases, said it was too early
in the investigation for him to comment.

"I'm in the process of investigating the circumstances and may have to file
a motion to revoke" the bail established for Mr. Jackson on June 16, he
said. "Certainly I couldn't let something like that slide."

Mr. Jackson and the other defendants had been imprisoned on the testimony
of Tom Coleman, a now-discredited undercover agent.