VIDEO: Illinois Man Fights Officers at Gas Station
Champaign, Ill., police say an altercation between a police officer and a Champaign man on Sunday happened after the officer was "aggressively approached by a citizen while performing his police duties."
According to a police report, Officer Cully Schweska was called to the 1500 block of North Prospect Avenue at 9:16 p.m. Sunday after he was told that a woman with an active Champaign County warrant may have been seen at the Mobil Super Pantry.
When the woman walked out of the store, Schweska tried to detain her and verify whether there was a warrant for her arrest. At that point, a man, later identified as Charles W. Grindley, 37, intervened and "aggressively approached Officer Schweska," Champaign police spokeswoman Rene Dunn told the News-Gazette.
"Both became entangled in a physical altercation, part of which was captured on a YouTube video," Dunn said. "During the altercation, Grindley continued to resist officers even after (pepper) spray was deployed. As Grindley was secured in handcuffs, he spat at and continued to yell obscenities at the officers."
Grindley was charged on Monday with aggravated battery to a police officer. He is due back in court in the case on May 13.
