FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Fargo man is facing multiple felony charges after he reportedly struck an officer in the head while resisting.
According to court documents obtained by Valley News Live, on September 16, around 3:00 A.M., a Fargo police officer was talking to a person parked behind the Exxon gas station at 3441 13th Avenue South. As he was talking to this person, they were approached by Damon Pippen, who stood near the officer.
The officer says he noticed a glass pipe with burnt residue sticking out of Pippen’s pants pocket, which he recognized as drug paraphernalia. He asked Pippen for his name, and he initially gave a different last name before being properly identified.
The officer then attempted to detain Pippen by grabbing his hand and telling him that he was being detained. He says Pippen began to pull away and attempted to flee. As he continued to resist, court documents say that Pippen struck the officer on the right side of his head. The officer says he pushed Pippen into a fence, but felt immediate pain in his shoulder. Pippen then fled to a nearby Motel 6.
During the struggle, a cigarette box fell out of Pippen’s pocket. It was later learned that the box contained 6.8 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 0.8 grams of suspected powder fentanyl.
Pippen was located near Motel 6 and taken into custody without further incident. He is now charged with felony counts of simple assault on a peace officer and preventing arrest. He also faces misdemeanor charges for false information to law enforcement, possession of meth, and possession of fentanyl.
