Aftermath of tight corner gets felony arrest

PHOTO BY KATHERYN SEIBERLING

A motorist overturned his vehicle April 3 along W Hopocan Avenue near Rally’s. When first responders arrived he refused treatment and reportedly threatened Barberton police officers with a knife, head-butted one officer and continued to resist at the jail. Nathaniel James Foster, 40, was charged with assault on a police officer (a felony), aggravated menacing, driving under suspension and failure to control.  

By BOB MOREHEAD

BGNN senior staff writer

BARBERTON  Police say it started with an argument on the phone April 3 and ended in a cell at the Summit County Jail.

Police got the call around 12:30 p.m. that a car was on its side on W Hopocan Avenue near Rally’s. The officer who arrived first identified the driver, Nathaniel James Foster, 40, who allegedly admitted to driving too fast on Wooster Road N while arguing with his girlfriend on the phone and rolled trying to turn onto Hopocan.
Paramedics attended to Foster and said he refused all treatment. Police say he got out his phone and was calling people while officers tried to ask him questions for the report and gave them rude and profane dismissals as they spoke to him.

Police say an officer overheard him say over the phone he was “about to take out one of these cops.” He then allegedly stood up and pulled a knife out of his pocket so the officer could see it. That officer called over another who drew his Taser and ordered Foster to put his hands behind his back. Foster reportedly pulled the knife out and tossed it to the ground.

He was handcuffed and led to a cruiser but allegedly head-butted an officer on the way. He then reportedly braced against the door and refused to get into the car; the Taser was applied and he complied.

At the jail, he allegedly continued to resist, flailing about and kicking another officer in the leg and arm. He then fainted, was revived with an ammonia capsule, and reportedly tried to bite the officer holding it. He was strapped into the restraint chair.

Foster was taken to the Summit County Jail charged with assault on a police officer (a felony), aggravated menacing, driving under suspension and failure to control.