BRATTLEBORO -- A local man was arrested shortly before 6 p.m., Friday, outside of the 99 Restaurant along Route 5 after he attempted to brawl with several people inside and threatened to blow up the building.
Carter Reeves, 44, of Brattleboro, was shouting nonsense and threatening to assault the two members of the Brattleboro Police as they handcuffed him and tried to put him in one of their squad cars.
Police said there was no physical evidence that Reeves had any kind of explosive material on his person or that there was any real danger to the customers.
Witnesses told the Reformer that Reeves was heavily intoxicated and knocking down glasses. He was shouting at the customers, challenging several to a duel.
"He was saying things like, 'We're gonna rock this joint, blow it sky high,' and, 'Hey you, wanna throw down, got something to say?' It was kind of scary," one woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said. "When the police arrived they handled it quickly and professionally."
Lt. Jeremy Evans said he and Patrol Officer David Cerreto were dispatched to the restaurant for a report of a man being disorderly and trying to instigate a fight with people inside.
"He was pretty worked up," Evans said. "Eventually he calmed down but not before he struggled for a while."
Reeves claimed someone was on their way to pick him up and drive him home and that the police had no right to arrest him. When the person arrived however, Reeves became even more agitated and tried to elude police to no avail.
Evans warned Reeves several times that if he didn't calm down and stop resisting arrest he was going to have to drop him to the ground. Reeves continued and both fell to the ground with an audible "slap."
When Reeves' friend spoke with him, she was able to calm him down enough to agree to get in the police cruiser.
He was driven to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital to be treated for minor scrapes and cuts from to his face from the fall and to detox from the alcohol.
Additional charges may be pending and the investigation is ongoing, Evans said.
The manager of the 99 Restaurant declined to comment.
Josh Stilts can be reached at [email protected], or 802-254-2311 ext. 273.
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