WEST TERRE HAUTE-On March 3rd at 1:11 am, a West Terre Haute Police Officer was returning to West Terre Haute when he witnessed a maroon minivan traveling south on 1st Street from Maple Avenue with a broken right tail light and the vehicle did not utilize a turn signal while turning onto Maiden Ln.

The Officer initiated a traffic stop. The driver stated that he did not have any kind of ID on him. The driver gave a name and birthdate which when the name was ran through Central Dispatch no information was found.

The Officer re-approached the vehicle and requested the driver step out of his vehicle and he complied. The Officer instructed the driver to put his hands on the vehicle and stated he was going to detain him by handcuffing him for the Officer’s safety while figuring out who he was. As the Officer was about to routinely place handcuffs on the driver he then spun around and grabbed the Officer by his exterior vest and pulled the radio microphone away from the Officer’s vest. Vigo County Central Dispatch was attempting to contact the WTHPD Officer to check on his status and the Officer was unable to request assistance due to the driver grabbing him in a forceful manner. The Officer was able then to get to his radio to ask for assistance. The driver then broke free from the Officer’s physical hold and started to run through a yard towards an alley. The Officer then tased the driver from behind and the suspect fell forward in a prone position on the ground.

A THPD Officer arrived and handcuffed the suspect. An ambulance was requested due to blood on the suspect’s face. The a Vigo County Deputy and another WTHPD Officer arrived. The suspect was conscious and alert. One Taser probe hit the suspect’s left buttocks and the second probe went into the back of the head. The second Taser probe was not removed by the Officers on scene due to the sensitive location.

Medic 7 ambulance transported the suspect to Union Hospital.

A WTHPD Officer performed an inventory process of the vehicle pursuant to department tow policy. A wallet was located in the front passenger seat with an ID belonging to the suspect.

The suspect was identified as Nathan Anthony Hoffman. A VCSD Deputy on scene ran the suspect information through Vigo County Central Dispatch and found Mr. Hoffman had an active Felony warrant out of Vigo County for a Felon in possession of a firearm. Central Dispatch also confirmed Mr. Hoffman’s driver’s license was Suspended with a Prior Suspension. Also in the vehicle was a black pouch in the front seat. Inside the pouch was baggies of suspected marijuana and also found was white powdery substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Also located was a multi-colored rubber pipe with visible black residue.

WTHPD was advised by Union Hospital that Mr. Hoffman will need to be transported by TransCare Ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for damages to his face as the result of his fall after being tased. Later WTHPD was contacted by the Methodist Hospital Police Department that Mr. Hoffman was able to leave the care of the hospital and they detained him until WTHPD arrived to transport him to the Vigo County Jail.
When a WTHPD Officer and a WTHPD Detective arrived at Methodist, Mr. Hoffman stated he had already eaten prior to the officer’s arrival and he was ready to leave.

Mr. Hoffman had multiple wounds on his face and he showed the officers his bottom lip and stated the hospital removed 13 rocks from inside his lip. Mr. Hoffman was placed in the front passenger side of the Detectives SUV due tothe police vehicle not having a “cage”. Mr. Hoffman while on the trip to Vigo County asked if he could call his wife to let her know what was happening and the officers allowed it, but he could not get his phone to work due to not having internet access. The WTHPD Detective allowed Mr. Hoffman to connect to his in-car WiFi to contact his wife.

Mr. Hoffman was then booked in the Vigo County Jail without further incident. While in the book in area Mr. Hoffman made statements admitting to the battery on the Officer.

Charges:

Level 5 Felony Possession of Methamphetamine

Level 6 Felony Battery against Public Safety Official Engaged in Official Duty

Level A Misdemeanor Resisting Law Enforcement

Level A Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana

Level A Misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia

Level A Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended with Prior Suspension in 10 years

Level B Misdemeanor False Reporting

Also the Felony Warrant for Possession of a Firearm by a Felon was served at the jail.