Police: Worcester man tried to gouge out officer’s eye during assault
A Worcester man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly attacking a police officer and trying to gouge out on of his eyes, Worcester police said in a statement.
Around 10:05 a.m., a uniformed officer working a private construction detail on Country Club Boulevard observed a 2014 Mazda attempting to drive into the work zone to access the Aldi Supermarket parking lot, ignoring the orange traffic cones blocking the entrance, according to police.
The officer told the driver, later identified as Jones Appiah, 30, that he could access the lot from Lincoln Street, about 100 yards away. Police said Appiah yelled at the officer and made a U-turn, driving off at an “unreasonable speed” on the wrong side of the boulevard.
A few minutes later, Appiah returned and drove through the construction site to enter the supermarket lot, according to the statement. After the officer told him to stop and asked for his license and registration, Appiah allegedly refused and yelled obscenities at the officer.
Police said after repeating his request several times and Appiah refusing, the officer told him he was under arrest. Appiah began to run away from the area, allegedly pushing a security guard, who had exited the store he was working at, out of the way.
After a brief chase, Appiah stopped and turned toward the officer, who believed he was about to be assaulted and pepper sprayed the suspect, according to police. This seemed to have little effect on Appiah, who charged at the officer, tackling him to the ground, police said.
A violent struggle ensued, with Appiah allegedly punching the officer while trying to get away. A second deployment of pepper spray once again had no effect on Appiah, police said.
The officer said he felt Appiah digging his fingernails into his face and scratching him. Appiah also allegedly pressed his finger into one of the officer’s eye with force. Police said the officer believed the suspect was trying to gouge his eye out.
With the help of the security guard, the officer was able to gain control of Appiah and place him in handcuffs. Emergency personnel arrived and treated Appiah for his exposure to pepper spray.
The officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment of broken blood vessels in his eye, facial cuts and scratches, and several scrapes and lacerations. He was later released and is expected to fully recover.
Appiah was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, assault and battery, mayhem, intimidation of a witness, threatening to commit a crime, failure to stop for a police officer, refusal to produce a license and registration, and operating a motor vehicle to endanger. He was expected to be arraigned Thursday in Worcester County District Courthouse.
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