A man is facing several charges after struggling with an LPD officer in Air Park late last night. Public Information Officer Erika Thomas says officers responded to a protection order violation call around 10:30 p.m. near West Loring Street and Northwest 50th Street.
As officers attempted to speak with 37-year-old Mynsraim Encalada-Cruz Thomas says he appeared to be intoxicated. She says a sergeant tried to take Encalada-Cruz into custody, but he tried to pull away and both men fell into the middle of NW 48th Street.
“During the incident, Sgt. Wagner’s body-worn camera and handcuffs fell to the ground as Encalada-Cruz broke free and took off running, Thomas says. “A Good Samaritan on the scene picked up the handcuffs and got them to the sergeant as he caught up to the suspect in a ditch about 200 feet away and took him into custody.”
The sergeant suffered cuts to his elbows, hands and knees during the altercation. Thomas says a bag of marijuana was found in Encalada-Cruz’s sweatshirt that he had tossed during the chase. He was taken to the Lancaster County Jail and booked for assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana.
He was also arrested for three counts of protection order violations.