It was a busy weekend for the Durango Police Department: An officer was bitten in an altercation, another officer got into a wrestling match with a fleeing suspect and a driverless car crossed U.S. Highway 160 west and struck a light pole.
Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Durango Police received a report of a woman causing a disturbance at the Adobe Inn, 2178 Main Ave.
Cmdr. Rita Warfield said the woman was fighting with the motel clerk and threw hot coffee on him, burning his face and eyes.
Two Durango police officers hurt in separate incidents
The woman – identified as Lila Sandoval, 19, of Durango – also was throwing items around the motel lobby and broke a countertop.
“She did quite a bit of damage at the hotel,” Warfield said.
When police arrived, Sandoval did not cooperate, Warfield said, and officers had to struggle with her to get her into custody.
As a Durango police officer was placing Sandoval into the backseat of a patrol car, she bit down on the officer’s arm, on the inner part of his elbow.
Two Durango police officers hurt in separate incidents
The officer went to Mercy Regional Medical Center out of precaution, Warfield said.
Sandoval was charged with second-degree assault on a peace officer, as well as third-degree assault for throwing coffee on the hotel clerk. She was also charged with resisting arrest, criminal mischief and violation of a protection order.
Authorities suspect alcohol played a major role in the incident, but they are unsure what else may have prompted Sandoval to cause the disturbance.
Around 8 p.m. Saturday, a male suspect with known warrants was spotted near Affordable Automotive, near 113 East Animas Road (County Road 250), by Bread and Star Liquors.
When the man – identified as Mashuntae Jackson, 38, of Durango – was approached by an officer, he initially was cooperative.
However, during the conversation, Jackson got up and ran. The officer caught up with him, and the two started wrestling until other units arrived to help, Warfield said.
The officer suffered superficial cuts and scrapes but did not have to go to the hospital, Warfield said.
Jackson was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance after officers found methamphetamine on him. He was also charged with resisting arrest and with being a felon in possession of a weapon.
Warfield did not immediately know what warrants were out for Jackson.
“It’s just a reminder that officers are always at risk of injury,” Warfield said of the two incidents.
Then, around 7 p.m. Sunday, a car parked at the Giant gas station on Highway 160 west rolled across all lanes of traffic and hit a light pole on the other side of the road, knocking it over.
Warfield said the driver failed to put the emergency brake on the car, causing the vehicle to roll. She said it did not appear the man was ticketed.
No one was injured in the incident, she said.
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