A ST. JOHNSBURY POLICE OFFICER WAS ASSAULTED

A ST. JOHNSBURY POLICE OFFICER WAS ASSAULTED AT NVRH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.   OFFICER DAVIS GUYER WAS PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED WHEN HE NOTIFIED MICHAEL CARPENTER, 60, THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN TO DETOX.  POLICE SAY CARPENTER WAS ON THE LOWER END OF EASTERN AVENUE, CAUSING A DISTURBANCE.  OFFICER GUYER REPORTED THAT CARPENTER WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND HAD NO PLACE TO GO.  GUYER TOOK CARPENTER INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, BUT FIRST TOOK HIM TO NVRH TO BE ASSESSED.  WHILE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, GUYER TOLD CARPENTER THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN TO DETOX AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTER, AT WHICH POINT CARPENTER BOLTED FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED AND WENT AFTER AN ATTENDING NURSE.  GUYER SAID HE GRABBED CARPENTER WHO KICKED HIM IN THE LEG.  MICHAEL CARPENTER IS SCHEDULED FOR A COURT APPEARANCE ON AUGUST 28.