Brotherly love lands Circle man in jail

Chris Freiberg

Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 

FAIRBANKS — Authorities say that a Circle man assaulted a Fairbanks police officer so he could go to jail with his brother.

David Jacob Ginnis, 35, has pleaded guilty to one count of assault or battery on a police officer. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with the full sentence suspended.

The officer was patrolling the downtown area Monday night when he noticed a small crowd had gathered to watch two men fighting near the Lacey Street side of the courthouse. One of the participants in the fight was arrested on a criminal trespass charge.

The man was sitting in the back of the patrol car when Ginnis, who appeared intoxicated, approached the officer and asked if he could speak with his brother. The officer allowed them to speak for five minutes, but when he told Ginnis he had to take the man to jail, Ginnis asked if he could come as well if he assaulted the officer, according to a criminal complaint filed in court.

The officer told him that would “not go well” for him, but Ginnis shoved the officer with his fist. The officer took Ginnis to the ground and arrested him without further incident, according to the complaint.