By Melissa Pinion-Whitt
The San Bernardino County Sun
Related: Naked suspects: No laughing matter
BAKER, Calif. — The half-naked man did not go gently.
In fact, he put up such a fight, it took two officers to get handcuffs on him as a crowd of spectators stood watching.
It started at Starbucks on Mojave Point about 9 a.m.
A man — barefoot and shirtless — was unconscious in the store.
When the California Highway Patrol officer arrived, however, the man was awake and alert. He left the store at the officer’s request.
A couple hours later — just before noon — someone flagged down the same officer and reported a naked man running down Baker Boulevard with blood on his arms.
The same guy, according to a CHP spokesman.
When the officer attempted to take the man, who in fairness was wearing shorts, into custody, the man resisted - at first fleeing and throwing rocks at the officer, then attacking him, according to the CHP.
“He was extremely violent,” said CHP Officer Greg Smoak. “The officer was defending himself.”
It was apparently quite a sight for tourists and travelers making a morning pit stop off the 15 Freeway.
“I’ve never witnessed anything like that in my life,” said Tom Lively, an Arkansas resident who saw the scuffle with his wife after he pulled over for a soda.
Dozens of people drove by, he said, some pulling over when they saw the scuffle in progress. Most stood and watched, some snapping pictures.
The tussle didn’t end until an off-duty officer jumped in and helped get the man handcuffed, according to the CHP.
Paramedics flew the man, whose name was not released, to a hospital for treatment. His condition wasn’t known, but police suspect he might have been on drugs.
The officer suffered minor injuries.
Smoak said his Barstow office took a few calls from concerned witnesses, but he emphasized the use of force was necessary.
“We don’t go beating people for no reason,” he said.
Copyright 2007 The San Bernardino County Sun