Man Arrested After Thumping Cop With Bible

SEPTEMBER 28--A burglary suspect hit a cop in the face with a Bible, an attack that led to his tasing and arrest on multiple criminal charges, according to a Florida police report.

Robert Otis Hoskins, the alleged Bible thumper, was collared Tuesday afternoon following a confrontation at a residence in Summerfield, an Ocala suburb.

Charged with burglary, larceny, resisting, battery on a law enforcement officer, and criminal mischief, Hoskins, 39, is being held in the Marion County jail in lieu of $13,000 bond.

Police responding to a 911 call about a burglary encountered Hoskins--who was only wearing a pair of gray briefs--outside his residence, next door to the burglarized property. As a deputy sought to question Hoskins, he began shouting at the cop as he approached with a book in his right hand.

Hoskins then wound up and threw the Good Book at the officer, who was struck in the face and jaw by the volume. As seen above, the Bible tossing was captured by a body cam worn by a cop who was not in the line of fire.

As he uncorked the throw, Hoskins “stated something like ‘I condemn you,’” a cop reported. Hoskins was subsequently tased and taken into custody following a brief struggle.

According to an arrest report, Hoskins’s wife told deputies that he “does have a drug problem.” Which seemed apparent when Hoskins told cops that God had directed him to break into his neighbor’s home and free the victim’s juvenile daughter.

Cops noted that Hoskins’s antics did not end after he was handcuffed. After defecating on himself at the crime scene, he unsuccessfully tried to bolt from officers upon arrival at the county jail.

Hoskins is scheduled for an October 27 hearing in Circuit Court. (3 pages)