Drunken Ann Arbor man accused of punching officer helping him into ambulance
Ann Arbor police said an intoxicated man who initially refused to pay a cab fare hit an officer Thursday night as she helped him into an ambulance.
Thomas Neely, 25, of Ann Arbor was arraigned Saturday at the Washtenaw County Jail on a charge of disorderly conduct and two counts of resisting and obstructing police, court records show.
Police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said officers were called to the intersection of 8th and West Washington streets at about midnight Thursday after receiving a report that a man was refusing to pay a cab fare. When officers put Neely in handcuffs and threatened to arrest him, he came up with the cash, Bush said.
Bush said officers told Neely he was too intoxicated to be on the street and called one of his friends, attempting to arrange a ride home. When officers couldn't reach his friend, they told Neely he would have to sober up at the hospital, police said.
While an officer was helping Neely into an ambulance, police said he hit her on the collarbone, knocking her back. Officers arrested Neely and took him to jail.
He is out on a promise to appear and scheduled to return to court March 22 for a preliminary hearing.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Jack
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 1:27 a.m.
Sober up in the hospital? Why should the hospital have to bear this expense? Why not sober up in a holding cell?
Michael J
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.
and why is it that marijuana is illegal?
Ypsi_Wings_Fan
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 5:45 p.m.
Are you kidding? All I feel like doing is fighting some cops after I smoke some doobage! Wait I forgot, thats not true.
YpsiVeteran
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
Question for Brian Mackie: If this suspect punched a police officer, why is he charged with resisting and obstructing, and not assault, a two-year felony? Why oh why, Mr. Mackie? If that same suspect had punched his neighbor, he'd have been charged with assault. Apparently, it's less of a crime to hit cop than to hit anyone else. I know; let's all send the officer a letter complaining about her "Cadillac benefits," then cut her pay.
YpsiVeteran
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 11:48 p.m.
<a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28vnohyjekdhapbq45nvv3z3b1%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-81d" rel='nofollow'>www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28vnohyjekdhapbq45nvv3z3b1%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-81d</a>
ferdcom
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 : 8:54 p.m.
He hits a cop and is out on a promise to appear. That's nuts.