Police Tase and Arrest Man After He Allegedly Punches Officer

Jarrad Kutsaftis, 24, of 152 Kay Street, Newport was arrested on Friday around 8:00 p.m on a felony possession of drugs charge, resisting arrest and two counts of simple assault. Middletown police were dispatched to Citizens Bank on East Main Road after a witness called to report that a woman had just thrown a man into a car and the car drove off the parking lot. 

Police stopped the suspect vehicle and found three men inside, later identified as Kutsaftis, his brother and his father. Police said a woman, later identified as his mother, approached the scene but she was asked to wait in her car. Kutsaftis allegedly swore at officers when they asked him to step out of the car.

Police said he eventually stepped out of the car but as they were conducting a terry pat search, Kutsaftis spun around as if he were going to punch the officer. Police took him to the ground but he managed to punch the officer in the shoulder.  The officer then landed a series of closed fist strikes to his midsection in attempt to gain control, but Kutsaftis continued to struggle, said police.

Police said they warned him that he would be tased if he continued to resist arrest, but Kutsaftis continued to fight the officers.  Police said they delivered a stun to his upper thigh and Kutsaftis agreed to cooperate.

Police said his mother explained she heard he was meeting a man at the bank to exchange prescription pills and she went to confront him.  She told police he denied that he was meeting anyone but she yelled at him to get in the car with his father and brother.

Police found various pills on Kutsaftis.  CVS Pharmacy told police he should not be in possession of the Clonazepam which is a schedule drug and the bottle was for a different dose.

Kutsaftis was transported to the Middletown Police Station.