Eric Gibbs

WARSAW — A Winona Lake man was arrested after trying to take a taser from an officer.

Eric Michael Gibbs, 41, 2905 Sandra Lane, Winona Lake, is being charged with count I attempted disarming a law enforcement officer, a level 5 felony; count II resisting law enforcement, a level 6 felony; and count III operating while intoxicated, class A misdemeanor.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Oct. 31, an officer observed a white Nissan speeding. The vehicle was going through a roundabout too quickly and went over the curb at the edge of the roadway.

According to the affidavit probable cause, the officer activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop and rather than stopping, the white Nissan accelerated. The officer turned on his sirens and followed the vehicle for approximately a one half of a mile.

The officer approached the vehicle and the driver exited the vehicle and had to hold on to the door to balance himself. The officer could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the individual. The officer identified the driver of the white Nissan as Eric Gibbs. The officer gave Gibbs a portable breath test and he tested at .22 BAC.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the officer transported Gibbs to Kosciusko Community Hospital for a blood draw. Gibbs consented to the blood draw and kept falling asleep during it.

A KCH emergency room nurse attempted to wake Gibbs to obtain his blood pressure so she could clear him for the Kosciusko County Jail. When Gibbs woke, he attempted to punch the nurse. An officer grabbed Gibbs’ left forearm and pulled his taser from his holster and pointed it at Gibbs. Gibbs then grabbed the taser and tried to pull it from the officer. The officer was able to retain possession of the taser and deploy it into Gibbs’ abdomen area, however, Gibbs only received the partial desired effect.

After giving Gibbs repeated demands to stop fighting, Gibbs stopped resisting and was handcuffed.

Gibbs was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 31, on a bond of $10,250 surety and cash.