Cedar Rapids man punched officer in face, police say

Police arrested a Marion man Friday after he spit at officers and then punched one of them in the face.

Chrishawn Stuckey, 29, of 1018 Seventh Ave., is charged with assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts after he confronted officers around 11 p.m. at the corner of Third Avenue and 17th Street SE. Officers were there to have a vehicle towed, after they spotted Stuckey's girlfriend, Cathy Hewing, 33, of Cedar Rapids, driving with a suspended license.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said officers told Stuckey why Hewing was being arrested and why the vehicle was being towed, and he became upset, eventually cursing at the officers. He wanted to drive the vehicle away to avoid the tow, Hamblin said.

According to the police report, Stuckey started to walk away, but turned and spit at the officers. Officers chased him down an alley in the 1600 block between Third Avenue and Bever Avenue SE, but Stuckey stopped abruptly and hit Officer Dan Kent in the mouth, police said.

They went to the ground, where Stuckey fell on top of the officer, and tried to hold him down on the ground. Kent was able to use his Taser on Stuckey and get him in handcuffs, Hamblin said.

Kent had a cut to his inner lip and also hurt a finger during the struggle, according to the criminal complaint. Stuckey was taken to the Linn County, but by Monday afternoon, he was no longer in custody.