AndrewBlakeTornado, WV – A West Virginia man who was believed to have been shooting a pistol out of a car window is facing multiple charges after he is accused of striking two police officers who tried to arrest him.
Blake Rutledge, 23, is charged with battery on a police officer, obstructing an officer and brandishing a dangerous weapon, according to WCHS-TV.
Police were notified Feb. 20 of a suspicious vehicle with a passenger shooting a pistol out the window. A deputy pulled the vehicle over at an intersection. The police held the driver and passenger at gunpoint and ordered both of them to exit the car.
When officers approached Rutledge, who was the passenger, he began to resist, according to WCHS. When the officers tried to grab Rutledge’s arm to place him in handcuffs, the officers could feel an object that felt like a firearm in his pants.
The complaint stated that Rutledge continued to struggle and numerous times tried to reach for his gun. During their struggle, a police officer was able to remove a 9 mm pistol from Rutledge.
Rutledge hit a St. Albans Police Officer as well as a deputy with his head and elbows during the fight.
According to the complaint, Rutledge was also wanted on burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy charges in Lincoln County. The firearm that was taken from Rutledge was stolen during a burglary in Lincoln County.
Rutledge was being held in the South Central Regional Jail. He had an $8,000 bond on charges in Kanawha County and an $8,000 bond on charges in Lincoln County.