Outer Banks Woman Arrested for Assault on Police Officer After Being Shot – May 1st, 2024

Colington, N.C. Woman Arrested and Charged

On Friday afternoon, Jennifer Leigh Tesner, 49, who was earlier shot by a Dare County deputy, was arrested and charged with felony assault on a law enforcement officer. This dramatic event unfolded in the tranquil community of Colington, nestled in the Outer Banks area of North Carolina.

Fast Occurring Events Lead to Arrest

Tesner was charged under the statute for assault on an officer with a firearm or other deadly weapon, which is considered a Class E felony. This recent arrest of Tesner dates back to the incident happening on March 17, although the warrant to arrest her was only issued on March 20. The suspect spent about two hours in jail before being released sometime the same day under an $80,000 secured bond. Her initial court appearance was set on the following Monday but was later rescheduled to May 9.

Comprehending the Bizarre Incident

The same tract in Colington that had witnessed the violent woman-officer encounter on March 17 became the site of her arrest. Not much has been shared about the circumstances around the shocking incident that led to Tesner being taken to hospital after being shot by a Dare County officer.

On that fateful night, a phone call landed at the law enforcement office reporting an “erratically behaving woman armed with a knife” sighted on private property. The responding officer arrived at the scene within minutes only to find the 49-year-old Tesner wandering along Harbour Road. Despite efforts to engage her in dialogue, she displayed complete noncompliance leading the officer to resort to using a taser on her. With the taser shock seemingly ineffective, the officer had no choice but to shoot, which led to Tesner being hospitalized shortly after.

Neighbouring Residents Baffled

Residents of the otherwise quiet neighbourhood witnessed the electrifying incident on the otherwise tranquil Harbour Road. Tesner was seen getting tasered twice before being shot by the officer on a nearby porch. However, this was only after she had dropped the knife in the yard following the initial shocks. Some residents speculated that Tesner had been experiencing a “psychotic break” for over a week leading to the unfortunate incident.

Investigation Underway, History Repeats

There has been no word from the Dare County Sheriff’s Office about either the officer involved or about Tesner’s medical condition following the shooting. The officer was placed on administrative leave as per policy and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is conducting an investigation into the incident. Notably, this represents the second time a law enforcement official has shot a civilian in the county in just over five months. Officer Edward Francis Glaser III had previously shot Sylvester Demetrius Selby fatally on October 2, last year. Although charges were not sought against Glaser, the recent incidents have brought renewed attention to the actions of law enforcement officers.