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Area man jailed after beating girlfriend, stripping on I-64 (http://www.carmitimes.com/articles/2005/08/23/news/news1.txt)

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 4:20 PM CDT

Shadrach Harding, 33, Centralia, was arrested late Monday morning after he allegedly pulled his car off Interstate 64 in western Wayne County, beat his girlfriend, then took off all his clothes and ran naked down the interstate.

The girlfriend, 28-year-old Isha Garrett of Centralia, was taken to Fairfield Memorial Hospital for treatment of cuts and bruises, WFIW Radio in Fairfield reported. Harding was later committed for a psychiatric evaluation.

Eastbound traffic on the interstate was backed up for miles as a result of the incident, the station reported.

Harding was arguing with Garrett when he pulled off I-64 near the Jefferson County line, allegedly dragged her out of the car and beat her. Traffic slowed down to witness the incident, the station said.

Harding stripped off his clothing and began running east on the highway, sometimes stopping and lying down on the pavement, apparently in hopes that a vehicle would run over him.

Police officers from several agencies converged on the scene; Wayne County deputies Dave Zola and J.B. Fletcher were the first to arrive, and the suspect was naked when they reached the scene. The two lawmen used pepper spray to subdue Harding, whom they wrestled into a ditch, the station said. The officers handcuffed the suspect and loaded him into an ambulance. Both he and Garrett were taken to Fairfield Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Neither deputy was injured.

Traffic slowed down to witness the incident, the station said.