Police officer bitten responding to call

In the early morning hours of April 23, the Libby Police Department responded to a call about a woman who felt threatened by her agitated husband. According to dispatch notes, the woman said he had been up for three days and wasn’t making any sense. She also said he had guns.

Officers responded to the residence of Caleb Covey, 28, who they attempted to arrest for partner member assault. In the process, Covey added four more charges to his arresting document for striking one officer with a closed fist and biting another on his hand and face. 

Covey has had several runs in with the law dating back to 2004. Many of which are related to driving infractions ranging from speeding to reckless driving and negligent endangerment.

One of the three responding officers was Chief Jim Smith. “While we were arresting him he turned to run,” he said. “When we caught him he realized he wasn’t able to get away he struck one officer with a closed fist.” That officer was Smith.

When they subdued Covey, he continued to resist and used the only weapon he had at his disposal, his teeth. 

Officer Jonathan Graham was bitten on the hand and face, inflicting wounds that required medical attention. Graham was then placed on medical leave for 48 hours to give the wounds time to start healing.

Smith said doctors don’t stitch human bite wounds in order to let them be flushed free possible contaminants.

“He’s on a regimen of antibiotics,” said Smith. “That’s a standard procedure, plus he was checked for a host of blood-borne diseases.”

Graham was set to return to work last night. His days off roughly coincided with his injuries, giving him a few more days to recuperate.

In addition to one count of partner member assault, Covey faces charges of felony assault on a peace officer, assault, for punching Smith, resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer. 

Covey is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, May 20. 

Bond was set in the amount of $75,000.