Hesperia couple arrested for assaulting police; taser deployed.

May 2, 2016

OCSO cruiserBy Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

NEWFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 28-year-old Hesperia man and a 31-year-old Hesperia woman were arrested after allegedly assaulting deputies from Oceana and Newaygo counties Sunday night, May 1.

A taser was deployed in order to restrain the suspects, and a short-barrelled shotgun was seized by police, said Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Craig Mast. Both alcohol and drugs are believed to be factors.

The incident began at 10:22 p.m. when deputies were called to a vehicle in the ditch on East Yonker Road near 200th Avenue. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered that the driver had fled. The vehicle was impounded, and deputies proceeded to the vehicle owner’s address.

When officers arrived at the residence, they observed through a window a female lying on the floor. The male suspect came to the door and was uncooperative with police, Mast said. The deputies said they needed to check on the woman’s condition. The man then lunged at the Newaygo deputy, grabbing his upper body and assaulting him, Mast said. The Oceana deputy deployed his taser to get the man off the officer.

The man then charged and assaulted the Oceana deputy, causing both the suspect and the officer to stumble backwards and fall off the landing with the suspect landing on top of the deputy. At the same time, the female suspect had gotten up off the floor and jumped onto the Newaygo deputy’s back, Mast said.

The deputies were then able to restrain both suspects, who were lodged in the Oceana County Jail. They face charges of assaulting and resisting police and other possible charges.

The deputies suffered only minor injuries. “They were lucky,” Mast said.

Names are not being released pending arraignment.

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