A couple who police officers questioned for soliciting funds along Highway 41 were arrested Tuesday after the man was found to have out-of-state warrants on him, became combative and was shot with a Taser repeatedly, authorities said.
Nathan David Gilman, 27, of 907 Sierra Place, No. 62, Dalton, was charged by the Dalton Police Department with being a fugitive from justice, willful obstruction of law officers, willful obstruction of law officers by threat or violence and pedestrian soliciting rides or business.
Rose Leigh Gilman, 25, also of 907 Sierra Place, No. 62, was charged with willful obstruction of law officers, felony tampering with evidence and pedestrian soliciting rides or business.
Nathan Gilman was twice able to get an officer's Taser before being subdued, once along Highway 41 and again at the jail.
The Gilmans were seen sitting along Chattanooga Road (Highway 41) near I-75 North, Officer Nathan Pressley said in an incident report. Rose Gilman was holding a sign saying they were out of work and needed help, but attempted to hide the sign when Pressley approached.
After the Gilmans said they had no identification, Nathan Gilman told Pressley there were warrants out on him in Pennsylvania but that that state did not want to extradite him. Pressley found warrants from Pennsylvania for aggravated assault and obstruction, with the state requesting a hold be put on Gilman.
Pressley said Gilman began to get upset when he learned Pennsylvania wanted him and he was told to give the leash to the dog he was holding to Rose Gilman. When Nathan Gilman turned his back on Pressley and put his hands in his pockets, Pressley grabbed Gilman's wrists and told him to put his hands behind his back.
"I pulled the subject's hands out of his pockets and he had several glass pipes fall out," Pressley said in the report. "The subject then turned around and attempted to flee."
Pressley wrestled Gilman to the ground and Officer Will Bryan assisted him.
"The subject began swinging his arms at me while I was trying to gain control," Pressley said. "I advised Officer Bryan to Tase the subject at this time."
But Pressley said Bryan's Taser "had no effect." As both officers attempted to get Gilman under control, he pulled away and Pressley got his Taser. As Gilman was trying unsuccessfully to throw Bryan down, he got control of Bryan's Taser and ran toward the patrol car.
"I deployed my Taser ... and the Taser did stop the subject," Pressley said. "I yelled at the subject to drop the Taser ... (and he) did as instructed."
Pressley said Gilman continued to "struggle, push and flail" against the officers as they tried to photograph where he was Tased.
During the altercation with Gilman, Pressley said he heard Bryan ordering Rose Gilman to "stay back" and noticed she was retrieving and concealing the glass pipes. Pressley called a supervisor and also animal control.
Sgt. Alan Woods arrived and told Pressley he was "familiar" with Nathan Gilman.
At the Whitfield County jail, Sgt. Jason Tatum with the sheriff's office took Nathan Gilman to a holding cell. When Gilman began to punch windows in the cell, Tatum and two other booking officers went to the cell. Gilman "began to flail his arms at them, telling them to come on," Pressley stated.
"I observed as they attempted to gain control over the subject," Pressley said. "Realizing that the deputies were not able to gain control, I stepped into the holding cell. I then heard them say, 'He has the Taser.' I retrieved my Taser and and deployed it into Mr. Gilman's left side, with one probe hitting under his armpit and the other about his waist. With this cycle of Tasing, we were able to get the deputy's Taser from Mr. Gilman."
Pressley said Gilman bit Tatum's thumb during the altercation and Tatum went to seek medical treatment, and then "numerous" jail employees arrived to assist "until they were able to get Mr. Gilman into custody."
Police spokesman Bruce Frazier said the department's policy on Tasers is to use them "against subjects who are actively resisting officers."
"After each firing of a Taser, a review is conducted of the officer's actions and also the performance of the device," he said. "Separately, a review is performed every time there is any use of force of any kind. In this case, with a subject physically assaulting officers, the officers' use of the Taser appears justified and in line with the department's policies."
Rose Gilman received a $1,619 bond but remained in the jail late Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman said. Nathan Gilmer is on a hold for the charges he faces in Pennsylvania. The spokeswoman said he has no prior charges in Whitfield County.
Copyright 2011 - The Daily Citizen, Dalton, Ga.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
