A man is facing charges after an officer was assaulted on the weekend.
Just before 3:30 a.m. Sunday, an officer with the Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service was at the side of the road on Longwoods Road after pulling over a pickup truck. A man on a motorcycle pulled up and confronted the officer. Middlesex OPP officers were called for help, but the motorcyclist took off and got on Highway 402.
The motorcyclist was stopped by an OPP officer, who determined that the man might be impaired. A roadside sobriety test was conducted, and during the test, the man "became very aggressive and assaulted the officer by striking him in the face," police said.
The officer, who received minor injuries, used his Taser on the man and took him into custody.
Ronald Clause, 51, of Mississauga's of the New Credit First Nation is charged with assaulting a peace officer and failing to comply with a demand. He is to appear in court on August 4.
"This incident is another reminder of the dangers that our officers face each and every day and that no traffic stop should ever be viewed as routine," Middlesex OPP said in a news release issued Monday. "This is also another great reminder why motorists need to slow down and move over when they see that police have someone stopped at the roadside. Officers and civilians need room to ensure a safe space to work in."
Strathroy-Caradoc police said the driver of the pickup truck is also facing charges. Police said the man driving the pickup did not have a valid licence. Police searched the truck and found a firearm, ammunition, 27 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and prescription medications.