GP Farms Police Arrest Teen for Dealing Drugs

Following a chase throughout grounds and into the Hill business district Monday, police arrested a 16-year-old resident for selling marijuana to another teen.

The arresting officer sustained a cut and swollen lip in addition to a bruised, swollen ankle and a heel after repeated attempts to get the teenager under his control Monday afternoon, according to a report.

Ultimately, it was discovered the teenager had a jar of marijuana in his backpack and he told officers he fought their commands because he did not want his mother to find out, according to a report.

Officers were called to the field on Richard Elementary School grounds about 3:30 p.m. Monday after a woman witnessed two teenage boys exchanging a small package on a bench. The woman also reported that the boy hid the package as soon as he realized he was being watched.

The first officer spotted the teens and when he went around to get closer, the teens were gone but the officer found one of them on a bench near Rite Aid.

The officer approached the first teen and another teen who was now also sitting on the bench. He first asked the teenager about where the other boy had gone. A lighter sitting on top of a jacket prompted the officer to ask about cigarettes, which led to the teenager becoming aggitated, according to a report.

The teenager cursed at the officer, grabbed his backpack and then pushed the officer as he began leaving the area saying he had to go to work. He had already told the officer he works at a nearby restaurant.

The officer followed the teenager who ran, and would not follow commands to stop. The officer pushed the boy into bushes and a brick wall. The teenager dropped his backpack and then punched the officer while trying to retrieve it, according to a report.

He got it and began running again. The pair ended up near Cottage Hospital on the Hill after the boy's shorts fell to his ankles, causing him to fall. The officer attempted to handcuff the teenager, but he continued to fight and began to try to reach for the officer's handgun.

During the struggle, the officer pulled out a taser, warning the teenager of it and explaining he would not use it if the teen would simply stop resisting. The teen continued fighting however, and the officer used the taser, striking him in the chest. The taser did not phase the teenager, who continued to fight the officer but was eventually arrested, according to a report.

During the arrest, officers found a glass jar with marijuana in it, a small scale and $60 cash in the teenager's pockets. All of it was taken into police evidence and the marijuana was weighed. Additionally, the officers took the teenagers iPhone into evidence as well, according to the report.

He was arrested and initially charged with selling marijuana and resisting arrest.

As detectives began investigating, they learned of the other boy's identity who had originally been seen with the arrested teenager by the woman who called police to report the crime, according to a report.

The extent of the officer's injuries were not clear late Monday but his ankle and heel had to be iced following the arrest, meanwhile the teenager was not injured, according to a report.