Cottage Grove man charged after allegedly punching, fighting police officer

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A Cottage Grove man is accused of attacking and punching a police officer.

Washington County prosecutors have charged Nathan C. Grier, 19, with assault and an obstruction charge in connection with an incident earlier this month at a Cottage Grove home.

Grier allegedly interrupted the apprehension of a woman for protective custody and punched Cottage Grove police officer Mike McCormick and then fought with him until McCormick used a Taser to subdue Grier.

Grier appeared in Washington County District Court this week and is charged with felony fourth-degree assault of an officer and obstructing the legal process, a gross misdemeanor.

According to the criminal charges:

McCormick went to a home in the 7900 block of Hearthside Avenue on June 8 with another police officer, a city building official and Washington County Community Services child protection workers to check the living condition of the apartment and the welfare of a female resident.

After inspecting the apartment, which the building official said would be condemned, McCormick and the child protection workers went to a basement area to look for the female resident. They found the woman, who appeared intoxicated and not able to care for herself. As McCormick prepared to take her into protective custody, a man who was later identified as Grier showed up and approached the officer while “breathing heavily with his chest puffed out and his hands clenched at his sides,” according to the criminal complaint.

The child protection workers held Grier back for a time but he then walked fast toward McCormick with his fists clenched and “eyes fixated” on the officer, the complaint says. McCormick had warned Grier multiple times to stay away. Grier took a step back and then punched McCormick in the right eye and began fighting with him. McCormick had to physically fight Grier and then use the Taser gun to get him to stop fighting, the complaint says.

McCormick had swelling on his face, pain and swelling in his right wrist and a large scratch on his head.

Grier was taken into custody and booked at Washington County jail; he was later released. Grier appeared in court on Wednesday and has another court date set for Sept. 26.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $6,000 fine.

Tags: crime and courts, updates, crime