Man arrested, accused of assaulting off-duty investigator after crash

LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – A 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a public servant after authorities said he attacked an investigator Tuesday.

Josh Cummins, an off-duty Liberty County Sheriff's investigator, was attempting to help the driver of an overturned vehicle on FM 2797 in Kenefick around 10:30 p.m. when the driver began to attack him, according to authorities.

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Cummins and his family were driving home on FM 2797 when a car passed them at a high rate of speed, authorities said.

The car swerved into a drainage ditch and rolled over, according to investigators.

Cummins stopped his car and ran to help the driver, who was crawling out of the car and appeared to be injured, investigators said.

The driver, later identified as Codey James Black, asked Cummins to not call the police, but Cummins told him that it appeared he needed medical assistance, so he needed to call police.

When Black asked Cummins a second time to not call police, Cummins identified himself as a Liberty County Sheriff’s investigator and again offered assistance, authorities said.

At that point, Black began hitting Cummins in the face with his fist while Cummins was trying to defend himself. Cummins suffered numerous deep bruises and scrapes to his face and head, according to authorities.

Cummins' wife called 911 and reported the attack, but before deputies could arrive, Black had fled the scene.

Search dogs were called in to track him, but they could not locate Black at that time, according to investigators.

Cummins was taken to a local hospital.

Black was identified by investigators and he was arrested at a home on Trinity Street around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

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