Gary Taylor
Sentinel Staff Writer
3:41 p.m. EDT, October 12, 2009

Police officers usually wear bullet-proof vests, but there is no protection for a pillow, especially if it might be covered with enough germs to make it a "biohazardious material."

Erik John Batty, 40, of Edgewater, faces a charge of battery on a law enforcement officer stemming from the thrown pillow.

Edgewater police were called to the Driftwood Mobile Home Park Sunday afternoon by George Batty, 62, who was worried that his son may have taken some pills and was trying to hurt himself.

Officer Myles J. Lawler said he determined Erik Batty had not taken too many pills, but that the man refused treatment for an injury to his forehead that was bleeding.

Using profanity, Erik Batty told Lawler to get out of his room and then threw the pillow, which the officer deflected before it hit him, according to an arrest affidavit. Because the man has several diseases, "I felt the pillow was biohazardious material and could contain hazards," Lawler said in the report.