By DENNIS ROSENBERGER
stceditor@salemtc.net
SALEM — A 29-year-old Salem man was taken into custody on additional charges of obstructing justice and resisting arrest following an incident at a Salem gaming parlor on Thursday afternoon, where Marion County Sheriff’s deputies were attempting to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
According to information released by the sheriff’s office, deputies were on patrol at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Thursday when they had suspicion that Dustin J. Taylor, who was wanted in Marion County on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance (a Class 4 felony), was inside a local Salem gaming parlor.
“When the Marion County deputies entered the gaming room, a male was seen wearing a ski mask while sitting at one of the gaming machines,” states a press release from the sheriff’s office. “One deputy recognized the clothing / shoes the male was wearing. They were the same items Dustin Taylor was wearing, previously. Once a deputy attempted to take Taylor into custody, the other deputy recognized the tattoo on the face of Taylor.”
The report states that while the warrant arrest was being conducted, Taylor allegedly began to resist and pull away from the deputies and physically fight and resist the deputies.
The sheriff’s office release states that at one point in the struggle, Taylor allegedly reached for and began to pull a hammer from his waist band, but the deputy ordered him to put the hammer down, while also utilizing the presence of his taser. Taylor was then taken into custody by the deputies.
Following the incident, Taylor was cleared by medical staff and was being held in the Marion County Jail on Friday morning on the felony warrant for possession of a controlled substance, as well as any formal charges that may be filed stemming from the altercation at the gaming parlor.
The sheriff’s office reminds that all subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. Final charging decisions are the discretion of the Marion County State’s Attorney.