A Chehalis man faces allegations he punched a police officer in the face and bit another on the forearm following their visit to the man’s home in response to suspicious reports of a “hostage situation” and a person “outside with a gun.”
According to court documents, the man was later tased after attempting to escape the hospital.
Jerry D. Nixon, 64, made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Friday, Feb. 13, to determine bail for charges including two counts of third-degree assault, one count of fourth-degree assault domestic violence and one count of obstructing a law enforcement officer.
He will look to retain private defense counsel.
During the hearing, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson said that Nixon posed a danger to the community based on his current mental state and cited multiple guns found at Nixon’s home.
He requested the court issue both a no-contact order on behalf of the alleged victim — who was allegedly assaulted by Nixon prior to the altercation with police — and an order for Nixon to surrender any firearms.
The victim is reportedly the son of Nixon’s partner.
Rachael Tiller, Nixon’s attorney for the day, noted that Nixon had no felony history or failures to appear in court. She called the allegations “completely out of character.”
Tiller also argued against the proposed separate no-contact order, requesting instead release conditions that would prohibit Nixon from contacting the victim or discussing the case.
“In times like this, we need family,” Tiller said.
Judge Joely Yeager said that bail was appropriate under the circumstances and set the amount at $50,000 cash or bond, in agreement with the state’s request, to go with the entered domestic violence no-contact order and order to surrender firearms.
According to court documents, Nixon is allowed to return to his residence but must not have contact with the victim or go to his living quarters — which are reportedly separate from Nixon’s.
The probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office details the altercation that led to the fight and eventual tasing from the perspective of Chehalis police.
According to the affidavit, a sergeant and an officer responded to Nixon’s home after receiving reports of a suspicious circumstance that included calls to dispatch describing a scary-looking man outside with a gun and a “hostage situation and they won’t help us.”
The calling number was reportedly associated with Nixon.
Upon arrival, the officers were met by the victim on the porch, who indicated that Nixon was “not in his right mind.”
Nixon later stepped onto the porch and allegedly began to grapple with the victim. Both officers tried to step in and separate the two. During the struggle, Nixon allegedly punched the officer “on the left side of his face with a closed fist,” before pinning him to the ground.
When the sergeant attempted to “reach around (Nixon’s) upper body,” the defendant allegedly bit him on the forearm.
The officers eventually handcuffed Nixon.
Speaking with the officers, the victim reportedly described Nixon as “being paranoid lately” and said he had been using kratom and drinking, which led to his “psychosis.”
After being granted access to the home, the officers reportedly discovered and seized an AR-15 rifle by the couch and other firearms nearby.
Nixon was transported to the hospital to evaluate his injuries, where he was uncuffed. According to the affidavit, after being cleared for release, Nixon allegedly refused to put his hands behind his back, instead saying “that this was going to go the same way it did last time.”
Nixon allegedly continued to be uncooperative and swore at an officer, who drew his taser.
According to the affidavit, Nixon attempted to get out of the doorway, prompting the officer to deploy the taser.
“Dixon (sic) fell to the ground where several officers tried to get him into cuffs. Dixon (sic) continued to resist their efforts and only complied after several knee strikes were administered,” the affidavit states.
Nixon was transported and booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 9 p.m. Feb. 12.
He is scheduled for an arraignment on Feb. 19.
