Holly MatkinMemphis, TN – An irate fugitive claiming to be HIV-positive bit a Memphis police officer’s thumb during a violent brawl that broke out after a traffic stop last week, according to police.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Eva Street and Jackson Avenue at approximately 3:57 a.m. on Oct. 3, WMC reported.
According to court documents, Memphis police conducted a traffic stop on a Kia Spectra after noticing the vehicle had unreadable tags.
When officers approached the vehicle, they spotted 44-year-old Marco Smith sitting the back seat without a seatbelt on, police said.
Smith asked the officers if he could get out of the car, but they told him to stay put.
They asked the occupants for their identification as the investigation continued, at which point Smith allegedly gave them numerous fake names, WMC reported.
He also allegedly rattled off other people’s social security numbers.
When the officers asked Smith to get out of the vehicle, he reportedly became irate and ignored their commands, WHBQ reported.
Police said he pushed away from the officers while hiding his hand below his waistband and took off running, at which point one of the officers deployed his Taser, according to WMC.
During the ensuing fight to take him into custody, Smith allegedly chomped down on the right thumb of one of the officers, causing it to break, court documents stated.
The suspect was ultimately handcuffed and placed into the back of the patrol car, where he proceeded to smash his head against the cage while yelling, “I have AIDS!” according to police.
Investigators soon learned Smith had outstanding warrants for aggravated assault, vandalism of property valued at $1,000 or less, and intentionally evading arrest in a vehicle, WMC reported.
He was charged with new offenses of resisting criminal detention, aggravated assault to a first responder, criminal impersonation, and evading arrest.
Smith’s bond was set at $5,000.
The driver of the Kia the officers pulled over was given a traffic citation and released at the scene, WMC reported.
The officer Smith allegedly assaulted was treated at a local hospital for what police described as non-life threatening injuries.
