By Jacob Mathias

A misdemeanor charge becomes a felony after a Stevens Point man reportedly kicked a police officer during an arrest.

According to the incident report, 49-year-old Russell West was initially found intoxicated and passed out behind a downtown business shortly after 4 PM on Oct. 9. After an officer stopped to check on his welfare, West volunteered to enter detox at St. Michael’s Hospital.

Shortly after getting West safely checked in at the hospital, police were called back.

According to Assistant Police Chief Mike Rottier, West began threatening hospital staff after officers left, yelling obscenities and urinating on the floor and walls of the hospital.

When officers attempted to arrest West for disorderly conduct, he became combative and kicked an officer in the process, causing the officer’s wrist to become swollen. Once officers managed to secure West into the back seat, he became cooperative, Rottier said.

“When you’re intoxicated, you’re up and down with your emotions and behavior,” Rottier said. “He kind of dug himself his own little hole there.”

West now faces a charge of felony battery to a law enforcement officer, which carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 in fines, six years in prison or both. For the disorderly conduct charge, he could face up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

He returns to court Oct. 16.