Sept. 25--A Morgantown man accused of being combative and uncooperative with police is facing eight misdemeanor charges.
Nicholas S. Gifford, 22, was arrested for assault on an officer, obstructing an officer, fleeing police, destruction of property, escape, refusal to submit fingerprints and two counts of battery on an officer. He is free on $25,000 bond.
According to criminal complaints: Gifford matched the description of a man involved in a domestic incident at Brook View Apartments, off Brookhaven Road. When police asked him to wait by a curb while they checked his ID, he threw his arms up like he was going to fight.
He was placed under arrest and placed in a cruiser, where he moved his cuffed hands to his front. When police tried to again cuff his hands behind his back, he tried to flee, taking the officers to the ground.
Gifford punched one officer twice before running to a fence, where police deployed pepper spray and a taser to detain him.
He had to be pulled from the fence and later refused to provide fingerprints.
A phone, radio and two police name badges were damaged during the struggle.
Copyright 2012 - The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
