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Man arrested after clash with trooper

by KEITH KINNAIRD
News editor | March 29, 2020 1:00 AM

HOPE — A Ponderay man was arrested Thursday night for allegedly trying to fight an Idaho State Police trooper during a traffic stop on Highway 200.

State police stopped Max Douglas Williams for speeding and having inoperable taillights shortly after 8 p.m.

Williams initially gave Trooper Cpl. Jonathan Cushman another man’s name with a comparable date of birth and initially denied that the pickup truck he was driving belonged to him, according to a probable cause affidavit. The trooper also noted the odor of alcohol coming from the cab of the truck, the affidavit said.

Williams, 53, was asked to exit the vehicle and became agitated, the affidavit said. Williams attempted to flee, prompting Cushman to grab Williams to stop him. Williams, the affidavit said, tried to wrap his arms around the trooper and was thrown to the ground.

The affidavit further alleges that Williams wrapped his left arm around the trooper’s neck, but Cushman was able to break free and deliver several hammer-strike punches to Williams, who continued to scuffle with the trooper. The trooper deployed his Taser and Williams was subdued, the affidavit said.

Williams was charged with felony counts of battery on law enforcement and driving under the influence, in addition to misdemeanor counts of providing false identity information to an officer and driving without privileges.

Cushman suffered injuries to both knees, his hip, wrist and upper back/neck, according to court documents.

Williams made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court via videoconferencing with the jail on Friday. Minutes from the hearing were not immediately available, however.

A preliminary hearing on felony charges is pending.

A person with two DUI convictions in the last 15 years risks up to 10 years in prison, a one- to five-year driver’s license suspension, according to Idaho Code. The felony battery charge can result in a prison term of up to five years. The misdemeanor counts are punishable by up to six months in jail.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.