Police: Man tried to assault Kennewick officer with track hurdle

Kennewick police arrested a 30-year-old man reportedly found passed out on the running track at Kennewick High School who upon awakening attempted to assault an officer with a track hurdle.

Officers were called to the school early Sunday, police said. They woke Christopher John Nevin after finding him on his back asleep on the track, but he quickly became frustrated with officers and started screaming at them.

The officers calmed Nevin down and told them they would give him a ride home, police said. But while walking with them to a patrol car, he became uncooperative again. He reportedly said he wanted to kill himself and demanded one of the officers give him a gun.

When the officers tried to handcuff Nevin, he began to flee but stopped when he came upon a half-assembled track hurdle.

“He picked it up and attempted to throw it at (the officer) but his unsteady balance foiled his assault,” police said.

Police tackled Nevin and restrained him with handcuffs and leg restraints. He was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital before being booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of third-degree attempted assault, resisting arrest and trespassing.

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 10:05 AM with the headline "Police: Man tried to assault Kennewick officer with track hurdle."