Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) joined a bipartisan majority in voting to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for his failure to comply with investigations into the defunct “Operation Fast and Furious.”

VALDOSTA — The trial of a man who allegedly injured a Valdosta police officer and escaped custody by kicking out a squad car window began this week, and his lawyer argued the injury was an accident and escaping the car was justified.

Spencer Lamar Lonon was 18 years old on Jan. 5, 2013 when he was placed under arrested for allegedly shoplifting three X-Box controllers and a wireless Internet router from Walmart on Inner Perimeter Road.

The misdemeanor offense would likely have resulted in a fine and perhaps probation, but before Lonon made it to the Lowndes County Jail, he was

also charged with aggravated battery of a police officer, felony obstruction and attempted escape, charges that could land him in jail for more than 10 years.

Southern Circuit Judge Richard Cowart and a 12-person jury heard opening statements and testimony in Lonon’s trial.

Assistant Southern District Attorney Cathy Helms told the jury that video footage would show Lonon resisting arrest and stomping on the ankle of Alvin May, an off-duty Valdosta Police Department officer who happened to be shopping with his family at the store at the time and assisted with the arrest.

May suffered two acute fractures to his ankle and underwent two surgeries due to the injury. May is scheduled to have another surgery soon, said Helms.

Helms also said video footage would show Lenon using his feet to kick out the rear driver’s side window of a police car in an attempt to escape.

Lonon’s lawyer, Jason Moon, told the jury his client was justified in kicking out the car window because he could not breathe due to the fact he had been pepper-sprayed during his arrest. Moon also said Officer May’s injury was the result of an accident and not a deliberate attempt to do harm.

The trial continues today.