Man Accused Of Using Baby As Human Shield, Resisting Arrest

CLEVELAND COMMUNITY – A 26 year-old man is charged with multiple offenses after he allegedly used a three month-old child as a human shield while attempting to avoid arrest.

Samir Elibtar Naim of Airedale Trail, Garner, off Old Drug Store Road, Garner was arrested following an altercation with at least five Johnston County deputies.

Around 1:32pm Sunday, officers responded to Naim’s address to arrest him on two domestic assault warrants.

Officers said Naim opened the front door holding his baby. After a brief conversation with officers, Naim reportedly slammed the front door and ran back inside the house. Officers entered the home and encountered a pit bull. As they got near Naim he reportedly slammed an interior door as he fled into a room.

Naim reportedly held the 3 month-old between himself and the officers while shouting profanities. At one point, officers said he began to squeeze the child causing the baby to cry. Naim eventually let the child go and tried to flee again.

Naim allegedly assaulted five deputies who were trying to arrest him, by physically resisting and kicking. At one point he allegedly tried to reach for an officers holstered handgun.

He is also accused of causing approximately $60 in damage to a radio antenna on a patrol car.

Naim was charged with five counts of assault on a government official, misdemeanor child abuse, injury to property, and resisting a public officer. He was served with the two assault on a female domestic warrants and three unrelated failure to appear warrants on 2022 charges.

Authorities said the baby was not injured. The Johnston County Department of Social Services was notified about the incident.