Men Struggle With Police In Two Separate Incidents

Van Police officers struggled with two men in separate incidents last week after both men were uncooperative with officers.

On Wednesday June 10, officers were called to Hawaii Street in reference to a man threatening someone with a knife.

According to a report by Van Sergeant Dusty Cook, Arron Wayne Way, 28, Van, had been yelling and cursing at his neighbor. Way then went into his residence and came out with two knives. He headed toward the neighbor and just as he got to him, he dropped the knives and began swinging.

The report went on to say that when officers arrived, Way went back into his residence. Way’s mother let officers into the house and he was told he was under arrest. He then began to turn away and pull away from the officers. The report continued by stating that officers had to place Way in leg irons before he could be transported to the Van Zandt County Jail.

Way was charged with a felony of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor of resisting arrest.

Then on Friday June 13, officers were called to I-20 in reference to a man standing in the middle of the eastbound lanes of the Interstate.

According to a report by Van Officer Tim Scharfenberg, officers took Grant Patrick Ponder, 35, into custody for public intoxication.

The report went on to state that after Ponder was taken to the police department so that officers could obtain book-in information, he spit in Chief Kelly Smith’s face. He then fought officers and had to be placed in leg shackles.

During the struggle, a door and wall in the office were damaged.

As officers were transporting Ponder to the Van Zandt County Jail, he told them he would kill them when he got out of jail.

The reports continued by stating that officers had an ambulance meet them at the jail to check Ponder. Paramedics cleared him to be booked in.

Ponder was placed in a holding tank until he could be booked in and once officers were able to get all of Ponder’s personal information, it was discovered that he was wanted out of New Mexico for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and out of Florida for failure to appear.

Ponder was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct.