An 18-year-old has been charged with slamming a man's head and face into asphalt pavement and also spitting blood onto East Ridge Police officers and the police chief and at interim city manager Mike Williams.

One man who said he tried to halt the Friday rampage on Burns Avenue in East Ridge, Richard McClendon, said he (McClendon) got a gun and pulled the trigger, but it would not fire.

An officer was briefly knocked out during the melee.



Matthew Rieder, of Rossville, is charged with two counts of attempted criminal homicide, four counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and resisting a stop and frisk.

Officers were dispatched at 11:15 p.m. to a disorder at 1515 Burns Ave. Officer Cory Cleek was the first to arrive where he saw Mr. McClendon being assaulted in the street.

Officer Cleek attempted to gain control of the assault and tazed Rieder, but it "had little effect." Officer Cleek was then given a pistol by Mr. McClendon, which he said Rieder was trying to get. Upon Officer Cleek receiving the firearm, he was then attacked by Rieder, and the two began grappling for the pistol.

At some point Officer Cleek was struck in the head/temple area causing a short loss of consciousness. Another officer then arrived, ran up to the scene and also tried to taze Rieder. He, too, said it was ineffective.

He and two other officers said they then used their hands to try to subdue "the extremely combative suspect."

An officer reported, "Once the suspect was handcuffed, he still resisted officers’ commands. The suspect then spit blood towards Cpl. Hewitt. Cpl. Hewitt and I then had to physically restrain him until Fire and EMS could speak with him regarding medical treatment. The suspect openly denied the medical treatment. The suspect was then carried to my patrol vehicle. Once inside the vehicle the suspect spat blood at Mike Williams.

"The suspect was then transported to Parkridge East Hospital. While en route to the hospital, the violent and belligerent behavior of the suspect continued and he began striking his feet and head against the doors and glass of my patrol car.

"Upon arrival at the hospital, Rieder then spit blood upon me while I attempted to speak to him. I then inserted Rieder back into the vehicle and waited for other units to arrive. I was then joined by Lt. Stephenson and Officer Daverson, who assisted in attaching a spit mask and taking the party inside the hospital.

"The suspect continued his violent and tumultuous actions once inside the hospital focusing his attention toward both officers and hospital staff. Due to the extreme violent actions of the suspect and the peril which was placed upon both officers and hospital staff, the suspect was given medication to counteract his behavior. The suspect was secured with straps, placed on by hospital staff.

"Upon his release from the hospital, the suspect was transported to the Hamilton County Jail."

Stephen Carlton Colby said Rieder originally walked up to the outside of his residence and began causing a disturbance. Mr. Colby said he approached the suspect and the two began a verbal altercation that evolved into a physical altercation.

Mr. Colby said after the altercation ended, the suspect walked across the street to the residence of Haley Lyn Sharp. Ms. Sharp said she heard Mr. Colby and the suspect in a disorder outside of her residence and stepped outside to ask them to quiet down. Ms. Sharp stated that when she did this, the suspect turned around and yelled at her, "I'm going to ------- kill you". Ms. Sharp stated that she re-entered the residence and locked the door.

Ms. Sharp said Rieder then walked to the rear of her residence and started to force his way through her back door. She said as he made entry into the rear of the house, she ran out the front door and to the adjacent neighbor's house at 1521 Burns Ave. for help.

Ms. Sharp then made contact with Mr. McClendon.

He told police she was carrying a handgun with her and appeared hysterical.

Mr. McClendon took the handgun from Ms. Sharp and proceeded over to her home. He said when he arrived at the residence, he observed the suspect inside throwing items around and damaging it.

Mr. McClendon said he then pointed the gun at the suspect and stated, "Stop. Police Department." He said Rieder threw a leave blower at him and hit him in the head. He said Rieder then started moving towards him.

Mr. McClendon said he then squeezed the trigger on the firearm three times, but it did not fire. He said Rieder then told him to give him the gun and started chasing him. Mr. McClendon said he then tried to run back towards his home at 1521 Burns Ave. He said Rieder tackled him in front of the residence, forcing him to fall face first on the ground.

He said Rieder mounted his back and grabbed the sides of his head, then started slamming his face into the ground. Mr. McClendon said during the assault, the suspect was yelling at him, commanding him to give him the gun. Mr. McClendon said during the attack he tucked the handgun underneath him in an effort to keep Rieder from getting it. Mr. McClendon said the assault continued until Officer Cleek arrived.



