GREAT FALLS — Matthew William Rusk is facing several charges after he reportedly injured two police officers.
Court documents state that officers were dispatched to a residence Saturday at about 10:26 p.m. for a report of a man - later identified as Rusk - "acting strange" in a backyard on the 4100 block of 4th Avenue South as if he were "high on some kind of narcotic."
Officers approached Rusk in an alley and ordered him to remove his hands from his pockets, as they did not know if he had a weapon and was acting "agitated." Rusk refused, and officers approached him to place him in handcuffs. Rusk then allegedly pulled away, hitting an officer in the arm, and tried to run away.
Officers forced him to the ground, but he jumped up and again began running away. Officers caught up to him and Rusk elbowed an officer in the mouth and bit the officer on the hand twice before the officers were able to handcuff him.
Court documents note that at the time of the incident, Rusk was out on bond for felony charges of criminal endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. His criminal history includes convictions for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and several misdemeanors mostly related to illegal drugs.
Rusk has been charged with two felony counts of assault on a peace officer, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.
