Man Tasered, pepper-sprayed, tried to take officer's pistol

EPHRATA — Joseph Mata's bail was set at $100,000, twice what the prosecution sought, for being accused of assaulting a Quincy Police officer.

The 31-year-old Quincy man appeared in Grant County Superior Court Tuesday to set bail and to hear preliminary charges against him of third degree assault, resisting arrest, third degree escape and attempting to disarm a police officer.

Prosecutor John Knodell asked Judge Ken Jorgensen to set bail at $50,000. After reading the police report, Jorgensen set bail at $100,000 and scheduled to hear Mata's plea on Dec. 5.

On Nov. 28, Quincy Police officer Cullen Fowler attempted to arrest Mata for outstanding warrants for failing to pay fines for convictions of fourth degree assault-domestic violence and first degree negligent driving, according to court documents.

Mata reportedly ignored the officer's commands to stop and walked away. Fowler allegedly warned Mata he would use a Taser and follow through using it two times without effect.

"Mata kept walking, occasionally turning around and throwing his arms at me. Because the Taser was not working, I then deployed my (pepper) spray and sprayed Mata in the face while giving several verbal commands but it did not affect him," reported Fowler.

Mata reportedly charged the officer, who struck Mata with a baton several times in the arms and legs without effect, according to court records. The two began to fight, with Fowler reporting being punched in the head twice. Mata attempted twice to remove the officer's pistol while wrestling on the ground before giving up and fleeing to his nearby residence on G Street Northeast.

Grant County Sheriff's deputies assisted Quincy Police in surrounding the house. Court records show the Grant County Regional Tactical Response Team was summoned and a search warrant secured to enter the home. After three hours, the team allegedly extracted Mata and arrested him.