CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A black woman says she was arrested Sunday by Chesapeake police after defending herself from a white 17-year-old assailant who attacked and screamed racist obscenities at her.

Jessica Barnette, 24, said she was visiting a friend when the teen came into the apartment and punched her. Her shirt was ripped off in the ensuing fight.

When Barnette's friend called police, though, Chesapeake Officer Shawn Hutchinson and Patrolman A.J. Roop arrived on the scene and arrested her instead.

Hutchinson is the former Montgomery officer who, along with Matthew Leavitt, pulled over Twan and Lauren Reynolds in September 2008. Leavitt now sits in a federal prison after pleading guilty to two civil-rights violations for beating Twan Reynolds and illegally charging his wife, Lauren Reynolds, with driving under the influence. Leavitt, Hutchinson and Lauren Reynolds are white. Twan Reynolds is black.

Hutchinson admitted threatening to arrest his superior officer if he tried to stop Leavitt in the Reynolds incident.

Before Sunday's incident - on Dec. 22 - Barnette said, the 17-year-old robbed her of $200 when she stopped by to visit her friend, Kristina Griggs, who also is white. Barnette filed a police report on the robbery.

Earlier this month, when she was again visiting Griggs, she said, she watched the teen kick a dent in her car. She again filed a police report, but said she got no results from police.

On Sunday, when she arrived at Griggs' apartment for dinner, she said, the teen confronted her outside, called her a "nigger" and told her to leave.

When she entered the apartment anyway, she said, the teenager followed her and punched her in the stomach.

"I started fighting back, fighting back, and he rips my shirt off," Barnette said. "So I'm fighting in my sports bra."

She said the boy's parents were urging him on, and also used racial slurs.

Kristina Griggs and her mother, Brenda, witnessed the attack. Barnette said Brenda Griggs, who rents the apartment, is being evicted because of the fight.

"I was sitting at my table, and he started hollering at her, calling her names and stuff," Brenda Griggs said. "The next thing I know, I see a fist coming towards her."

Kristina Griggs called the police for Barnette.

"She's trying to defend herself. He's twice as tall as she is - 17 or not," Kristina Griggs said.

When police arrived, Barnette said, she was still very shaken up.

"I'm telling Hutchinson and Roop what happened, and I was kind of screaming. My adrenaline was pumping," she said. "I could barely see out of my left eye. That guy attacked me, and I was starting to defend myself."

Jessica Barnette, 24, said she was visiting a friend when the teen came into the apartment and punched her. Her shirt was ripped off in the ensuing fight.

When Barnette's friend called police, though, Chesapeake Officer Shawn Hutchinson and Patrolman A.J. Roop arrived on the scene and arrested her instead.

Hutchinson is the former Montgomery officer who, along with Matthew Leavitt, pulled over Twan and Lauren Reynolds in September 2008. Leavitt now sits in a federal prison after pleading guilty to two civil-rights violations for beating Twan Reynolds and illegally charging his wife, Lauren Reynolds, with driving under the influence. Leavitt, Hutchinson and Lauren Reynolds are white. Twan Reynolds is black.

Hutchinson admitted threatening to arrest his superior officer if he tried to stop Leavitt in the Reynolds incident.

Before Sunday's incident - on Dec. 22 - Barnette said, the 17-year-old robbed her of $200 when she stopped by to visit her friend, Kristina Griggs, who also is white. Barnette filed a police report on the robbery.

Earlier this month, when she was again visiting Griggs, she said, she watched the teen kick a dent in her car. She again filed a police report, but said she got no results from police.

On Sunday, when she arrived at Griggs' apartment for dinner, she said, the teen confronted her outside, called her a "nigger" and told her to leave.

When she entered the apartment anyway, she said, the teenager followed her and punched her in the stomach.

"I started fighting back, fighting back, and he rips my shirt off," Barnette said. "So I'm fighting in my sports bra."

She said the boy's parents were urging him on, and also used racial slurs.

Kristina Griggs and her mother, Brenda, witnessed the attack. Barnette said Brenda Griggs, who rents the apartment, is being evicted because of the fight.

"I was sitting at my table, and he started hollering at her, calling her names and stuff," Brenda Griggs said. "The next thing I know, I see a fist coming towards her."

Kristina Griggs called the police for Barnette.

"She's trying to defend herself. He's twice as tall as she is - 17 or not," Kristina Griggs said.

When police arrived, Barnette said, she was still very shaken up.

"I'm telling Hutchinson and Roop what happened, and I was kind of screaming. My adrenaline was pumping," she said. "I could barely see out of my left eye. That guy attacked me, and I was starting to defend myself."

Barnette said Hutchinson told her he didn't believe in self-defense, turned her around and handcuffed her.

"I started crying," Barnette said. "I said, 'I called you guys; how am I going to jail? I want to press charges.'"

Barnette is charged with misdemeanor battery. According to the criminal complaint by Roop, the official arresting officer, police on the scene heard conflicting stories from witnesses and both Barnette and the 17-year-old admitted to fighting and had physical signs of violence on their faces.

Chesapeake Police Chief Jack Ice said a juvenile petition was obtained for the 17-year-old on Thursday.

"Everyone will be brought in for a hearing," he said. "It's sure to all come to a head in court.

Once at the Chesapeake police station, Barnette said, Hutchinson told her to shut up.

"So I just shut up, knowing the history Officer Hutchinson had," she said. "I didn't tell them about being woozy and dizzy from all the head blows.

Barnette said Roop took her to the South Central Regional Jail.

She said she received medical attention at the jail, and Magistrate Tim Halloran released her on a $1,000 personal-recognizance bond.

"They didn't put me back in a cell because I was so injured," Barnette said. "I kept throwing up."

Barnette said she was taken by ambulance from the jail to CAMC General Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a concussion.

A source familiar with the situation confirmed that Barnette was arraigned quickly Sunday and then taken to CAMC General.

Kristina Griggs said she met Barnette at CAMC General.

"By then, she's throwing up, weak, dizzy," Griggs said. "She's got a black eye and a knot on her head."

Ice defended the actions of his officers. Hutchinson wasn't even the arresting officer, he said.

"He's had exemplary conduct since he's been here," Ice said. "I've not had one complaint on Officer Hutchinson since he's been here."

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.