Burton
An Edinburgh man was arrested after prosecutors say he tried to shoot a police officer during a traffic stop Wednesday night.
Joshua A. Burton, 28, was arrested on felony charges of attempted murder, intimidation with a deadly weapon, and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, along with a misdemeanor charge of pointing a firearm. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will determine what charges will be formally filed.
Based on statements provided by the Edinburgh Police to prosecutors, Burton’s vehicle was stopped by an officer for traffic infractions Wednesday night, said Brandon Robinson, chief deputy prosecutor.
The officer conducting the traffic stop said that after he left his vehicle, Burton had already exited and was allegedly “running at him” with a gun described as an “AR-style rifle.” When the officer went for cover, he saw Burton drop the firearm to his waist to clear it due to a malfunction. Officers then apprehended Burton, Robinson said.
Officers later discovered that the primer of a round ejected from the firearm appeared to have been struck by the gun’s firing pin, Robinson said.
Burton is currently held at the Johnson County jail, where his bond was set at $45,500 as of noon Thursday.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. A charging decision by prosecutors is expected to be made next week, Robinson said.
Edinburgh Police referred questions on the incident to the prosecutor’s office.
Police Chief Doyne Little later said the agency had reviewed body camera footage of the incident.
“The officers on scene did an excellent job using their training to deal with a potential deadly force situation and end it without any injuries to anyone involved,” Little said.
