Havre man denies assault on peace officer

A man accused of physically dragging a peace officer pleaded not guilty Friday in state District Court in Havre to charges including assault on a peace officer.

Sampson F. Mayer, born in 1986, of Havre was charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer and one count of resisting arrest March 16.

He pleaded not guilty Friday to all three counts before District Judge Dan Boucher.

According to court documents, Havre Police Department received a call from a male March 7, stating that someone was trying to "get him" at the Rails Inn Hotel. Upon arrival, officers found the room was vacant and the caller was not in the area.

With further investigation, the officers learned the man's name was Sampson Mayer. A dispatcher called Mayer's father. Mayer's father said his son was at his home and that he thought Mayer was "on something" because Mayer believed someone was out to get him.

The court documents go on to say that two Hill County sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene. One of the deputies reportedly heard someone yelling inside the home. The other deputy then banged on the door. The door was then opened from the inside slightly. After the door opened, a person on the inside attempted to close the door. The deputy at this point was trying to keep the door open.

The deputy who banged on the door was then reportedly grabbed by her hair and the collar of her jacket by the person inside and dragged inside the home, where she was pulled through the living room, toward a hallway in the home. Mayer was identified as the man pulling the deputy, the court documents say.

At this time, Mayer's father was reportedly yelling at his son. The other deputy then struck Mayer in the shoulder a couple of times with a flashlight in an attempt to make Mayer release the deputy.

The court documents go on to say that Mayer then threw the deputy he had a grip on into shelves in the home. After throwing the deputy, Mayer attempted to go back down the hallway of the home. The deputy who was thrown was able to grab Mayer and prevent him from going down the hallway.

After being told that he was under arrest and to get on the ground, Mayer did not comply. After Mayer was warned he would be tased if he did not comply, he was shot with a taser. Mayer then reportedly fell to the ground, but one of the deputies was only able to get one of Mayer's wrists handcuffed.

At this point, Mayer attempted to get back up on his feet. He was then tased again. Mayer was able to get up and another struggle ensued, resulting in one of the deputies being kicked into a television set and a chair by Mayer.

After picking himself up, the deputy who was kicked noticed a black-handled knife on the floor. The deputy then picked up the knife and threw it toward another part of the home, the court documents say.

The deputies were eventually able to fully handcuff Mayer and he was taken to the Hill County Detention Center.

Mayer was released on bail March 20.

If convicted, Mayer faces two to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 13 at 9:30 a.m.