Police: Man arrested for wielding knife, biting Kennewick officer

A Walla Walla man arrested after brandishing a knife bit a police officer while being treated in the emergency room at Trios Southridge Hospital in Kennewick.

The man, who has been identified as Esteban Joel Flores, 19, reportedly was attempting to escape when he bit the officer Wednesday evening, a release said. Flores was restrained and cleared by doctors before being booked into the Benton County jail.

The officer was treated at the hospital and back on duty Thursday.

Police were called Wednesday to the railroad tracks at First Avenue and Gum Street near the cable bridge about a report of a man getting in the way of trains.

They encountered Flores when they arrived and when they tried talking to him, he pulled a large knife from his backpack, police said.

Flores allegedly damaged at least one police car and possibly some other cars before officers used a Taser to subdue him, he said.

Flores is being held on suspicion of second-degree assault, malicious mischief, obstructing law enforcement, delaying a train and resisting arrest.

This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Police: Man arrested for wielding knife, biting Kennewick officer."