A Morgantown man was arrested Saturday after he stole alcohol from a Sheetz location and fought a police officer, who tried to detain him according to police.
Gerald Damon Gibson II, 28, was charged with malicious assault on a law enforcement officer, shoplifting, public intoxication, possessing marijuana and disorderly conduct by the Morgantown Police Department.
Just after 1p.m., Officer D. Moore was called to Sheetz on University Avenue for a shoplifting incident, according to a criminal complaint.
When Moore arrived, Sheetz employees were standing outside with Gibson, who tried to walk out with a six-pack of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, according to the complaint.
Moore told Gibson he was a police officer and to put his hands behind his back so he could be detained, searched and questioned. Gibson started to turn toward Moore, who grabbed Gibson’s wrists and tried to place them behind his back but Gibson tensed his arms and stopped turning toward Moore, the complaint said.
Gibson was told to put his hands behind his back and to stop resisting and Moore used a leg sweep to take Gibson to the ground, the complaint said. Gibson then tried to stand up and turned toward Moore, attempting to elbow the officer in his right ribs and to push him. Moore then got behind Gibson and wrapped his arms around him to restrain the suspect.
Gibson lifted Moore off the ground and slammed him into the side of a concrete staircase, the complaint said. Moore held on and placed Gibson in a guard position — meaning Gibson was between his legs and they were facing each other — and rolled onto his right side on top of his weapon so that Gibson couldn’t reach it.
Moore rolled to his feet and a second MPD officer, M. Beavers, helped get Gibson on his knees. Beavers used pepper spray on Gibson, who then escaped the officers’ grasp and ran toward Kirk Street, the complaint said.
Moore chased him, shot him with a Taser, tackled him and handcuffed him, the complaint said.
Moore received “several abrasions” to his arms and legs in the fight.
Morgantown Communications Manager Andrew Stacy said both Gibson and Moore were checked out by medical personnel. Moore returned to duty while Gibson refused treatment.
“It is part of the job and unfortunately it happens,” Stacy said.
Every incident is different and it is up to medical personnel whether an officer returns to duty, Stacy said.
Gibson was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court and is being held in North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.
