By KYLE ODEGARD
Gazette-Times | Posted: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 12:00 am
Corvallis police officers used Taser guns early Sunday to subdue a man in the emergency room at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.
Walter Loyd, 30, of Corvallis was taken by police to the hospital for an alcohol evaluation so he could be lodged at the jail in connection with some fights downtown. But at the hospital, he began fighting with officers and medical personnel, according to police logs.
Loyd had been in handcuffs but he was being switched to soft safety restraints for the examination. He then reportedly tried to hit an officer, said Lt. Dave Henslee, a spokesman for the Corvallis Police Department.
"He punched one of the nurses in the neck," Henslee said. He was zapped three times, because he continued to resist after the first two jolts of electricity. "This guy was pretty violent."
Police said it was the second time that night that Loyd had scuffled with police. Earlier, he'd allegedly fought with employees at the Peacock Bar & Grill, 125 S.W. Second St. As officers walked Loyd to a patrol car, he kicked a policeman and wrapped his legs around an officer's legs. The policeman had to lie down so fellow officers could pry Loyd's legs off of him.
Officers initially responded at about 1 a.m. to a report of five people brawling at the Peacock. As they arrived, two suspects ran from police but were taken into custody and cited for violent conduct. Officers contacted Loyd moments later, after police received a call of another fight.
"They hadn't finished dealing with the first fight when the second one broke out," Henslee said.
Loyd is suspected of fourth-degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and harassment.
Kyle Odegard can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.