Huntsville man sentenced to 20 years for officer's assault

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - A Madison County judge has sentenced a Huntsville man to 20 years in prison for assaulting a Huntsville police officer.

The sentence came down after Samuel Ward read a letter to the judge, asking for mercy.

Ward, his mother, and three other people spoke on his behalf Friday afternoon.

On April 3rd, 2010 a Huntsville Police officer suffered a broken bone in his face, a permanent scar on his lip, and a dislocated shoulder during a scuffle with Ward during an arrest.

That officer was also in the courtroom on Friday.

Ward's mother apologized to the officer for what happened.

Ward appeared devastated after the judge sentenced him.

Ward said he was sorry.

Ward is also a suspect in a shootout with police in 2011.

He was shot several times in a Huntsville housing project.

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