The father of a man accused of throwing a rock at a Coatesville officer’s vehicle sent a letter apologizing to the police department, according to officials.
The Coatesville Police Department posted a letter on their Facebook page which they say was written by Eric Watson Sr.
“It is with regret and admiration that I write to your department this letter,” the letter reads. “The regret is that your officer Det. Joseph Thompson was injured in a confrontation with my son Eric Watson on the 18th July 2016 in the City of Coatesville. I would like to extend my sincere apology to the injured officer, his family and your department at this time. This apology I also extend to Officer Jared Davis who must have been traumatized by the experience of being attacked by Eric.”
Watson’s son, Eric Watson, Jr., 29, was arrested last month after he was captured on surveillance video throwing a large rock at Officer Jared Davis’ marked vehicle as he drove on the 500 block of East Lincoln Highway in Coatesville, according to investigators. The impact from the rock shattered the vehicle’s windshield, officials said.
When Officer Davis exited his vehicle, Watson, Jr. allegedly attacked him and tried to strike him in the head with the rock. Davis tried to arrest Watson, Jr. but he resisted until other officers arrived at the scene and brought him to the ground, police said.
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One of the other officers who assisted Officer Davis suffered a broken sternum during the incident, according to investigators. Officer Davis was not injured however. Watson, Jr. was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, institutional vandalism, resisting arrest and other related offenses.
In his letter to Coatesville Police, Watson, Sr. thanks Officer Davis for showing restraint after the incident.
“In admiration, I want to commend the action taken by officer Jared Davis by displaying professionalism beyond the norm in a time when madness seems to be the order of the day and the lives of officers in blue are in danger. Even during the injuring of an officer the rights of Eric were not breached.”
A spokesperson for the Coatesville Police Department said they decided to share the letter, with Watson's permission, in the hopes that it would be seen as an "opportunity to move forward in a positive direction." The letter has been shared nearly 500 times since it was posted Tuesday afternoon.
