By Pat Culverhouse

Threatening to infect Minden police officers and bystanders with a deadly virus has put a New Orleans man in the parish prison booked on a variety of charges and facing a huge bond.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said 39-year-old Jermaine Rashun Powell was stopped Saturday at the local Walmart for questioning by officers Cadyn O’Connor and Hunter Buchanan concerning the alleged theft of a motorized bike which had occurred earlier.

During questioning, officers learned Powell was wanted by Hammond police on an active warrant. While escorting Powell to a patrol unit, he allegedly threatened to spit on the officers and on bystanders. He reportedly told officers he has been diagnosed with the AIDS virus.

Powell reportedly also made verbal threats to kill himself, attempted to asphyxiate himself with the unit’s seat belt and bashed his head into protective dividers inside the patrol unit.

Once at police headquarters, officers reportedly requested EMS to evaluate Powell. While awaiting the arrival of emergency services, Powell allegedly threatened to throw feces on police officers.

Powell reportedly was transported to Minden Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. He was later discharged from the hospital and taken to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.

Powell is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, two counts of intentional exposure to AIDS virus, self-mutilation by a prisoner, felony theft and on fugitive warrants  from Hammond PD and Ouachita Parish SO. His total bond has been set at $480,000.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.