[rabenson]

ELYRIA — A Cleveland man has been charged with assault on a police officer after he attacked an officer while he was being booked at the Elyria police station early Sunday morning.

Anthony Thomas, 29, was arrested for contempt of court on drunken driving and driving under suspension charges after officers were called to a domestic dispute at 1864 Middle Ave., Apartment C5, a little before 3 a.m. Sunday.

Once Thomas was taken to the police station, Officer William Witt removed his handcuffs and then retrieved his warrant and sat down behind the booking counter, according to a police report.

Without warning, Thomas lunged over the center section of the booking counter and began punching Witt repeatedly, the report said. Witt was unable to subdue Thomas, the report said, and began punching him to defend himself, the report said.

As the pair exchanged punches, Witt could feel Thomas reaching for his gun, the report said.

According to the report, Witt was unable to radio for help because his portable radio microphone had fallen from his shirt. Witt eventually “realized that he needed to stop the assault due to the increasing fatigue of Officer Witt, the much younger age of the suspect Thomas and the thought that Thomas was looking for a weapon to cause serious physical harm to Officer Witt,” the report said.

Witt was able to “grab Thomas by the throat and force him to the booking counter using his remaining strength,” the report said, and began cutting off his airway.

At this time, officers who had overheard the commotion responded “from all directions” and placed Thomas into custody, the report said.

Witt received bruising to his face and eye area, which was photographed as evidence, the report said. Elyria police plan to make a video of the incident available.

Thomas was taken to the Lorain County Jail and held on $7,000 bond, the report said.

Thomas appeared in Elyria Municipal Court today but did not enter a plea. A judge did, however, increase his bond on the assault on a police officer charge from $5,000 to $150,000 due to this lengthy record of offenses of violence, the fact that he frequently resides outside of Lorain County and his history of failing to appear in court.

[fudpucker]

i hoped this one was a white dude.
oh well.

[InfoWarrior]

Wow impressive choke he used, he choked the guy out using a pincer grip around the guy throat and applied pressure to the back of the head also, switching to 2 hands once he gained control. I don't think they teach that in self defence courses do they?

[minka1]

what was this idiot thinking? This fat cop was like choking him He's going to have plenty of brusies for a long time to come. Idiot.

[kellyhound]

What an idiot. I wud of shot him.

[stan221180]

When did Carlton join the police force?

[vulturedoors]

I think Officer Witt might not have gotten fatigued so quickly if he'd been in better shape.

[Faline]

stupid idiot

[AmericanIllusions]

Get 'em tubby!

[mirrormere]

It only takes 76 lbs of pressure to break the crichoid cartilage that holds the trachea open...that criminal is damn lucky to be alive. The cop showed a hell of a lot of restraint...I might have not been so generous...

btw...took his backup long enough to arrive.