OCTOBER 23--An intoxicated Floridian who allegedly battered his pregnant girlfriend told police that he was being unfairly arrested since “Obama said cops always listen to women.”

John Henry Shiffner, 18, was collared Saturday evening after he tangled with Lakesha Tolbert, his 30-year-old girlfriend, on a street in Century, a town in Escambia County.

According to a sheriff’s report, Tolbert told deputies that Shiffner (seen at right) pushed her to the ground. The woman, who said that she landed on her back, told investigators that she is 2 ½ months pregnant.

Tolbert, who declined medical attention, said that Shiffner had been drinking all day “due to he was upset about a death in the family.”

After being handcuffed and placed into an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office squad car, Shiffner yelled at Tolbert (whom he denied touching). Shiffner then “began rambling on about how Obama is right,” noted Deputy Matthew Bevins.

Regarding the 44th president, Shiffner observed that, “Obama said cops always listen to women.” This purported Obama observation does not appear to have previously been recorded by any journalists or authors.

Though he smelled of booze, Shiffner “denied drinking any alcohol tonight and refused to state how he obtained the alcohol,” reported Bevins, who added that Shiffner’s mother denied purchasing alcohol for her underage son.

Shiffner was charged with felony aggravated battery and disorderly intoxication, a misdemeanor. He was booked into the county jail, where he remains locked up in lieu of $3500 bond. Shiffner is scheduled for a November 8 Circuit Court hearing. (2 pages)