An Atlanta man, who was allegedly under the influence of drugs when he caused a disturbance at a local motel, was Tasered more than 15 times with no effect by Williamsburg police trying to bring him under control before he was arrested on multiple counts of assaulting a police officer and a corrections employee among other charges.
Williamsburg Police Sgt. Chad Foley arrested Matthew V. Johnson Jr., 35, charging him with public intoxication controlled substance (excludes alcohol), second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, three counts of third-degree assault of a police officer, and two counts of third-degree assault of a correctional employee.
The incident happened about 3:26 a.m.
Foley and Williamsburg Police Officer Eddie Cain were dispatched to the Super 8 motel off KY-92W in reference to a man allegedly beating the outside of a hotel door causing a disturbance and keeping people awake.
The desk clerk advised police that he had rented a room to a man, who had torn up the outside of room 120 and was acting crazy.
When police arrived at room 120, they observed a man, who was later identified as Johnson, laying on the ground rolling around outside the room. The outside portion of the air-conditioning unit was completely destroyed and laying on the ground, Foley wrote on the arrest citation.
Johnson was sweating profusely, had exaggerated/uncontrollable body movements and allegedly appeared to be manifestly under the influence of some sort of substance, Foley wrote.
Police identified themselves, and Foley gave multiple verbal commands for Johnson to stop moving and roll over with his hands behind his back, which he allegedly refused to do, according to the citation.
Foley them attempted to handcuff Johnson, but he resisted. Foley was able to get one handcuff on Johnson, but allegedly he refused to give him his other hand and was pulling away, the citation stated.
At one point, Johnson allegedly swung at Foley and was able to get away from him with one handcuff still attached to his hand. Police gave Johnson several verbal commands to stop and get on the ground, which he allegedly refused to do. Johnson was then Tasered a total of 17 times by Foley and Cain with no effect at all, Foley wrote.
When Williamsburg Police Officer Tim Baker arrived at the scene, he was able to grab a hold of Johnson and pin him against a wall. Foley then got control of Johnson’s hands and after a brief struggle was able to get both handcuffs on him.
“During this struggle, Johnson kicked Officer Cain in the knee. We escorted him to my car and while searching his person, he kicked me in the leg,” Foley wrote.
After police arrived at the Whitley County Detention Center with Johnson, he allegedly resisted getting into a restraint chair as deputy jailers were trying to put him in it, according to the citation.
“Mr. Johnson was kicking and moving around not allowing them to restrain him in the chair, despite verbal commands telling him to stop kicking and moving. During this, he kicked Deputy Jailers Auston Gatliff and Angie Gainey in the leg and once again kicked Officer Cain in the knee,” Foley wrote.
The motel estimated that the damage to the window air-conditioning unit was about $120.
Judge Fred White entered a not guilty plea for Johnson on all charges during his arraignment Monday morning in Whitley District Court.
White scheduled a Dec. 29 preliminary hearing in the case, appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Johnson and left his bond at $15,000 cash.
As 8 p.m. Monday, Johnson remained incarcerated in the Whitley County Detention Center, according to the detention center’s website.
