Irate KFC customer subdued by police stun gun

FREMONT - A Fremont police officer used a stun gun on a man who was ranting inside a KFC restaurant Thursday after the suspect allegedly attacked the officer.

Charles Powell, 47, of Fremont was charged with one felony count of assaulting a police officer, and one misdemeanor count each of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and criminal damaging.

Fremont police officer Lester Daniels responded to the Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1712 West State St., at 8:48 p.m. for a report of an irate customer.

When Daniels entered the restaurant, he noticed pop spilled on the floor and Powell was yelling at people inside the restaurant. Customers were standing back alarmed at the actions of Powell, the report said.

Daniels asked Powell why he was yelling and Powell said he was not given the correct change back on his order, according to a Fremont police report.

While telling Daniels he was not given correct change, Powell slapped a credit card machine off the counter.

Daniels told Powell to stop or he would be arrested, and asked Powell to put his hands behind his back in order to handcuff him to protect patrons and workers.

Powell then lunged toward Daniels and began digging his fingernails into Daniels' cheeks while telling the officer he was not going to be arrested, the report said.

Daniels forced Powell against the counter, holding onto the suspect, and when Powell refused to stop resisting, Daniels stepped back and used a stun gun on Powell's stomach.

"My taser prongs made contact with the male's stomach but did not appear to have much effect since he just stood there looking at me," Daniels said in the report.

Although the stun gun did not subdue Powell, Daniels said in his report that it stopped his aggression and the suspect began to comply with Daniels, who placed Powell under arrest.

The report said Powell damaged two credit card machines, two child safety chairs and threw a punch in the direction of the manager.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: @CraigShoupNH