Spanish Fork man arrested following 'extensive fight' with officers

PAYSON — A Spanish Fork man was arrested late Sunday in Payson after police say he stole a case of beer and then fought with responding officers, including grabbing an officer's Taser and using it against the officer.

Sam Searle, 30, was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of assault on a police officer, theft, failing to disclose his identity and interfering with an arrest.

On Sunday, just after 10 p.m., a beer theft was reported at a gas station near 700 S. Main Street, in Payson, according to a police booking affidavit. Officers searching the area found Searle in a nearby backyard, "crouched in a corner, underneath a tree."

An officer ordered Searle, at gunpoint, to get out from under the tree and show his hands but he refused, the affidavit states. When Searle eventually did walk out from under the tree and an officer attempted to place handcuffs on him, Searle began fighting with the officers.

"I removed my Taser and deployed a 'drive stun' in an attempt to gain compliance. The suspect continued to fight through the first cycle and a second cycle was administered. The suspect then fell to the ground where he continued his fight with (my partner) and me," an officer wrote in the affidavit.

At one point during the struggle, "the suspect was able to free one hand … grab ahold of my Taser, and turned it toward me, creating a drive stun on my leg. This caused me to lose control of my Taser, which fell to the ground and, at this point, strikes were attempted to gain compliance," the affidavit states.

Police say Searle was taken into custody "after an extensive fight."

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