Officer injured during arrest; suspect struck in face and tased

A tense altercation outside a local gas station led to the arrest of 48-year-old Elvis R. Hinkle by CBS26, following a struggle that left an officer injured and the suspect subdued by a taser.

Details obtained from police records indicate that officers T. Pappas and K. Ross encountered Hinkle alongside Robert McNeill near a white truck at Circle K, situated at 18141 N. John Wayne Parkway, around 8:15 a.m. The officers, on routine patrol, recognized Hinkle from previous encounters and were aware of multiple outstanding arrest warrants against him.

Upon spotting the officers, Hinkle reportedly entered the convenience store, prompting a wait outside by the officers. Ross attempted to request Hinkle’s driver’s license, but the suspect refused and walked away. Pappas intervened, informing Hinkle of his arrest due to the outstanding warrants.

Attempting to evade arrest, Hinkle resisted when approached by Pappas, leading to a physical struggle. Despite attempts by both officers to restrain him, Hinkle resisted aggressively, prompting concerns about his behavior.

The situation escalated further when McNeill, accompanying Hinkle, exhibited threatening behavior towards Pappas, causing the officer to draw his taser. Hinkle continued to resist, prompting Pappas to deploy the taser, subduing the suspect momentarily.

Despite initial restraint, Hinkle persistently resisted arrest, prompting further use of the taser and physical force to secure his compliance. The struggle resulted in injuries to both the officer and the suspect, with Hinkle eventually being handcuffed and escorted into custody.

Throughout the altercation, bystanders gathered, some filming the incident and engaging in verbal altercations with the officers, intensifying an already volatile situation.

Upon transportation to Pinal County jail, detention officers discovered what appeared to be a methamphetamine pipe concealed on Hinkle’s person. Subsequently, Hinkle faced multiple charges, including two felony counts of promoting prison contraband and aggravated assault on an officer, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest, in addition to the existing seven warrants against him.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Hinkle faces a potential sentence of three and a half years in prison, awaiting resolution for the series of events that transpired during the confrontation at the gas station. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.