A Bigfork man was recently arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer after an early morning altercation in Whitefish.

Paul Kermit Gysler, 39, was taken to the Flathead County Detention Center after the July 17 incident near the parking garage. He faces one felony count of assault on a peace officer.

According to the charging document, a Whitefish police officer saw a man allegedly urinating in public near the parking garage at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

When the officer approached Gysler, he reportedly became agitated and the officer told him to put his hands behind his back.

But Gysler allegedly pushed away from the officer and resisted arrest. The officer took Gysler to the ground and tried to handcuff him. But Gysler allegedly grabbed the officer, threw him down and held him down.

The officer used his Taser on Gysler and another person helped the officer subdue Gysler. The officer reported injuring his elbow and finger.

Three other officers assisted in handcuffing Gysler while he allegedly resisted.

According to a July 13 story in the Havre Daily News, Gysler was arrested on a charge of possession of dangerous drugs along with a homeless man from Washington state.

On the assault charge in Flathead County, Gysler faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in the Montana State Prison.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or [email protected].