Resisting man tased, struck in face during arrest

Maricopa police arrested a man after a struggle outside a local gas station that resulted in an officer’s injury and a suspect’s tasing. 

Police arrested 48-year-old Elvis R. Hinkle Dec. 15 after he allegedly resisted officers before being tased and struck in the face several times, according to a police report obtained by InMaricopa. 

Officers T. Pappas and K. Ross were patrolling at about 8:15 a.m. when they saw Hinkle and Robert McNeill next to a white truck at Circle K, 18141 N. John Wayne Parkway, police records state.  

Pappas said he recognized Hinkle from past encounters, and that he had several arrest warrants outstanding. 

Hinkle reportedly looked at the officers before walking into the convenience store. The officers waited outside for Hinkle to exit the store. 

Ross tried to ask Hinkle for his driver’s license, before he said “no” and walked away. Pappas intercepted Hinkle and told him he was under arrest for his warrants. 

Hinkle allegedly tried to flee before Pappas grabbed him.  

Both officers tried to place Hinkle in a control hold, but he allegedly tensed his muscles and pulled his arms away. 

During the struggle, McNeill started walking toward Pappas in an “aggressive manner,” police reports stated. Pappas pointed his taser at McNeill and told him to back up. McNeill retreated.  

Pappas then told Hinkle to put his arms behind his back, or he would be tased. Hinkle allegedly kept resisting and was tased in the back.  

Ross was able to secure a handcuff on Hinkle’s left wrist. 

Pappas tased Hinkle again to get his right arm out from under his body. When Hinkle pulled his arm back under himself, Pappas said he struck Hinkle in the ribs twice to get a hold of his right hand. 

Hinkle allegedly began holding his hand near his waistband and refused to stop when directed. Pappas reported he thought Hinkle was reaching for something in his waistband, so he struck Hinkle on the left side of the head three times with his hand. 

The officers got Hinkle’s right hand out from under his body, but he allegedly grabbed the free hanging cuff with both hands and would not let go.  

Pappas’ pinky finger got caught and bent backwards in the cuff, so he struck Hinkle twice on the left side of his face. The officer sustained a cut on his pinky finger. 

The officers were able to place the second cuff on Hinkle’s right wrist. He was then escorted to a police vehicle. 

Ross stated in the report that multiple bystanders gathered during the incident, and “filmed and verbally berated” the officers.  

Hinkle denied having any contraband under his clothing. When police transported him to Pinal County jail, detention officers found what appeared to be a meth pipe in his anus. 

Hinkle was booked on two felony counts of promoting prison contraband and aggravated assault on an officer. He was also slapped with one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest and his seven outstanding warrants. 

Hinkle faces three and a half years in prison. 

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