July 20--A man has been arrested on a felony warrant stemming from an alleged assault on several police officers and one civilian, police reported Thursday.
According to the Yuma Police Department, the incident happened at about 9:07 p.m. July 12 after officers were dispatched to the area of Giss Parkway and 4th Avenue to check up on a report of a suspicious person in the area.
A female officer, whose identity was not released, spotted a man later identified as 52-year-old Rickey Stephens in the 300 block of Giss Parkway and made initial contact with him.
As she approached him, Stephens allegedly became aggressive and would not comply with verbal commands. The officer then used an Electronic Control Device to shock the man with electricity in order to gain compliance.
However, Stephens was undeterred by the ECD and allegedly punched the officer in the head and placed her in a headlock.
An unidentified civilian nearby ran to the officer's aid and was able to pull Stephens away from her. Stephens then allegedly turned his attacks toward the civilian.
Shortly thereafter, additional officers arrived on scene in order to subdue Stephens, who allegedly continued to ignore orders to submit to arrest. Another officer, wielding an expandable baton, used his weapon to strike Stephens in the thigh. Stephens allegedly retaliated violently against this officer.
To gain compliance from Stephens, the officers shocked him with their ECDs five times so they could keep him on the ground long enough to handcuff him.
It will not be known if Stephens was intoxicated by drugs or alcohol during the alleged clash until his toxicology report is filed, YPD stated.
The female officer and the civilian who came to her aid were treated at the scene for minor injuries and released. The officer wielding the baton was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center for treatment and later released. That officer will not return to active duty until the injuries received during the altercation have healed.
After Stephens was subdued by police, he was taken to YRMC for treatment. After he was released from the hospital, YPD arrested him on a felony warrant. He was then booked into the Yuma County Adult Detention Center and faces numerous felony charges for aggravated assault.
Copyright 2012 - The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.
