Kent officer fires Taser at shirtless man who tries to punch him | Police Blotter

A Kent Police officer fired a Taser at a shirtless man after he reportedly tried to punch the officer during an incident at the McDonald’s lobby, 1236 W. Meeker St., where a woman had run to escape the man.

Officers arrested the man for investigation of third-degree malicious mischief for damage to a lamp shade at the restaurant as well as to the woman’s glasses, according to the police report.

Several people called 911 at about 12:21 a.m. Sept. 14 to report a man forcing a woman out of a vehicle. The woman told police she was getting a ride to downtown Kent with her former foster son when he told her he needed $2,000 from her. When she refused to give him money, he became angry and started to drive recklessly.

When he pulled the vehicle into a parking lot near Washington Avenue and West Meeker Street, the woman got out of the vehicle. He followed her and knocked her glasses off of her face. She then ran to the McDonald’s.

Officers arrived at the restaurant where the man said to them, “Take me to jail, I’m about to hurt you.” He then came toward an officer, who used his forearm to block the punch. The officer pulled out a Taser and fired two darts into the side of the man, who fell to the ground. Police then handcuffed the man. The man pulled the darts out of himself before police took him to jail.

Assault

Officers cited a man for investigation of fourth-degree assault after he allegedly threw an empty plastic juice container that hit his ex-girlfriend in the face during a dispute at about 3:07 p.m. Sept. 14 at a house in the 20000 block of 108th Avenue Southeast.

The man left the house before officers arrived and they were unable to track him down, according to the police report.

The woman told officers they started to argue in the kitchen and she asked her former boyfriend to leave the house. He refused to leave, got in her face and threatened to bite off her nose. He then backed away and threw a plastic juice container that missed her before throwing another one that struck her. He also threw a rice cooker that just missed the woman.

The woman fired pepper spray at the man who then left the house. He returned and tried to kick in the front door, which damaged the deadbolt, before he left the scene.

Obstructing

Police arrested a man for investigation of obstructing after he initially lied about his name after being pulled over during a road rage dispute at about 4:20 a.m. Sept. 17 near South 259th Street and Pacific Highway South.

The incident started when an officer saw two vehicles along South 259th Street and watched one vehicle veer toward the other one, according to the police report.

The officer activated his overhead lights and pursued the vehicles. Both vehicles turned into the nearby Pembrooke Apartments. The officer followed one of the vehicles, which eventually stopped in the parking lot.

Police also were able to talk to the other driver who said he saw a vehicle pull up behind him, with the driver honking the horn and flashing the headlights. The car then came up alongside him and a passenger rolled down the window and challenged him to a fight. The man said he didn’t know the men in the vehicle. He next saw the police car behind him before they entered the apartment complex.

Reckless driving

Officers saw a BMW speeding and spinning through the intersection of South 212th Street and 84th Avenue South at about 2:11 a.m. Sept. 15.

Officers estimated the speed of the vehicle at about 50 to 60 mph eastbound along South 212th Street, according to the police report. Officers pursued the car, which pulled over.

There were three occupants in the car. Police arrested the driver for investigation of reckless driving. The driver told officers he didn’t mean to lose control through the intersection but the car had too much power.