Collegedale Police said a man with a felony record repeatedly struggled with them as they tried to take him into custody early Saturday.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Central Avenue regarding a man who allegedly was threatening suicide and had ingested pills.
While officers were responding to the location, dispatch advised officers that the 911 caller stated that the man would likely attempt to flee from police.
Upon arrival, officers located the 23-year-old man sitting in a chair on the front stoop of the residence. Bystanders informed officers that the suspect had ingested Xanax pills and had been drinking heavily. Family members of the man stated that as officers pulled up on the scene the suspect stated that he was going to attempt to disarm the officers and kill them with their own weapons.
Officers attempted to speak with the man, who became violent and lunged towards an officer’s gunbelt. A struggle ensued and the suspect aggressively fought with officers who had to deploy Tasers to subdue the man and place him into custody, police said.
The suspect was uninjured from the fight with police, but was transported by Hamilton County EMS to Erlanger Hospital for a possible drug overdose.
During transport to the hospital the suspect struggled with police and EMS personnel and attempted to escape his restraints. The suspect continually stated his intentions to kill police officers.
After being treated at Erlanger, he was then transferred to the care of Moccasin Bend Mental Health Center for further treatment and evaluation.
The man has been charged with assault on police officers and resisting arrest.
Police said his arrest record shows numerous prior felony charges and convictions out of the state of North Carolina, including armed robbery and assault causing serious bodily injury.
No officers were injured during the incident and the Collegedale Police Department was assisted on the scene by deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.