Man Accused of Punching Centralia Officer Wrestled to the Ground After Tasers Ineffective

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A Union man allegedly punched a Centralia police officer in the face and caused injuries to another officer during a scuffle where two Tasers were deployed, authorities say.

The incident was allegedly prompted by officers trying to arrest the suspect, John M. McCarthy, 31, accused of assaulting his mother.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Saturday, police were dispatched to the Motel 6 parking lot located at 1310 Belmont Ave. after someone saw a man pulling something away from a woman while the woman screamed, “Call the police.”

Responding officers found McCarthy and the alleged victim, his mother, sitting in a Jeep in the parking lot. While one officer talked with McCarthy, another talked with the victim, noting that she had red marks on her neck — “indicative of a domestic assault,” read court documents.

An officer told McCarthy he was under arrest for assault, and McCarthy allegedly tried to push the officer from his spot in the Jeep. McCarthy then got out of the vehicle and allegedly started to rush at the officer. The officer deployed a Taser, but it was “ineffective.” A second officer did the same, again with an “ineffective” result.

Three officers responded to the scene, and charging documents allege McCarthy punched one in the face, causing a laceration to the neck and a swollen lip. He was wrestled to the ground, where he continued to struggle for about five minutes.

Later, another officer found his earpiece had been ripped out of his ear during the fighting, causing bleeding. The officer also had abrasions to the neck, head and right knee.

McCarthy was charged with two counts of third-degree assault and one count of resisting arrest.

During a hearing in Lewis County Superior Court Monday afternoon, Judge James Lawler imposed $25,000 bail, saying he found the allegations concerning. 

McCarthy has an arraignment hearing on Thursday.