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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A 73-year-old man has been charged for allegedly pinning a sheriff's deputy against a Wal-Mart produce stand with his motorized wheelchair and trying to take his gun.
John T. Snyder was charged Monday with felony disarming a peace officer, and misdemeanor counts of assault on a peace officer and interference with a peace officer making an arrest.
The charges stemmed from the alleged encounter with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's deputy on July Fourth at a suburban Wal-Mart. Snyder's arraignment was scheduled Sept. 12.
Deputy Christopher Maez was called by store officials after they said Snyder entered the store even though he had been banned, according to court records.
Deputy Christopher Maez approached the man in the produce aisle, and asked him if he was banned. Snyder allegedly said he hadn't been banned from the store, and Maez asked him to go outside to discuss it.
Snyder, however, allegedly drove his wheelchair into the deputy's leg, pointed at him and, using a curse word, told Maez to get away, according to court documents.
The court papers say Snyder became aggressive and belligerent after Maez told him to watch his language.
The documents then say Snyder drove the wheelchair into Maez's legs and shins. Maez backed up and bumped into the produce stand.
Snyder allegedly then drove his wheelchair into the deputy, pinning him against the stand and knocking some produce to the floor, according to court records.
Snyder drew his weapon and told Snyder to back off. But court documents say Snyder only stopped after Maez instead used his stun gun several times on him.
Wal-Mart officials didn't immediately return a phone message Tuesday. Snyder was not listed in the phone directory, and court papers did not list an attorney for him.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
