While on an early patrol near America’s Best Value Inn, 2003 W. Hwy. 66, Oct. 7, Officer Dominic Molina saw a female try to hide inside of a dark Pontiac Grand Prix. He ran the car’s license plate through Metro Dispatch and found it was registered to a different vehicle.
Molina pulled up to the Grand Prix and two passengers got out. They remained still at his command and indicated another male was the driver. Molina approached the side of the car and made contact with Bryson Hickson, 28, of Grand Mesa, Ariz.
Hickson was told to turn over his identification, but did not have any. He got upset when he was told the license plate did not belong to the vehicle and reached into his pocket. Molina opened the driver’s door and saw an orange syringe sticking out of Hickson’s pocket along with a wallet.
Hickson repeated that he had no identification and refused to get out of the car. Once Molina tried to pull him out of the vehicle, he became disorderly and began to struggle with Molina, pulling both of them to the ground. Hickson yelled for one of the passengers to help him, but neither one responded.
Molina tried to call Metro Dispatch, but was unable to after Hickson managed to change his radio channel while continuing to struggle. After his shirt was grabbed, Hickson pulled it off and tried to run from the scene, but Molina deployed his Taser and knocked Hickson to the ground.
One of the prongs fell from Hickson and Molina was tased by the wires, causing his left arm to lock up. Hickson tried to take the Taser, but eventually ran from the scene into the motel. Molina followed and was joined by Officer Julio Yazzie. The two officers overpowered Hickson and placed him in handcuffs.
The other passengers fled. Metro Dispatch advised Molina that the car was stolen from First Quality Motors in Gallup and Hickson had two warrants for his arrest.
Gallup Med Star staff was deployed to assist with removing a Taser prod before Hickson was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center for clearance.
After receiving clearance and processing the paperwork at Gallup Police Department, Molina took Hickson to McKinley County Adult Detention Center where he was booked for disarming a peace officer, battery on a peace officer, receiving stolen vehicles, and resisting arrest.
