Grambling State University Police arrested an Arizona man for resisting arrest and other charges after a confrontation with officers responding to his stuck tractor-trailer rig.
Michael D. Dickerson, 44, of Tucson, apparently got his Peterbilt rig stuck in a grassy area off Main Street on the GSU campus last Thursday morning. Dickerson told police was trying to turn around because he thought the road was blocked.
When police told him he must move because he was blocking traffic, he worked the truck back and forth, only to bury the tires deeper in the mud causing ruts in the lawn. Dickerson did not respond to suggestions that he call a tow truck.
GSU Police called a tow truck and requested Dickerson’s license and information. After three requests he finally gave officers his information. He was presented with a citation, but refused to sign and told officers he wanted to call his lawyer. He then rolled up the truck window and made a phone call.
Police told Dickerson that if he didn’t sign the citation, he would be arrested. He proceeded to write “N/A” on the citation rather than sign his name. Police directed him to get out of the vehicle, but he refused.
Dickerson was told he was under arrest and to exit the truck, but he still refused. Officers then entered the passenger’s side of the truck and physically pushed Dickerson to the driver’s door.
Police used force to take Dickerson into custody. He was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was booked for resisting an officer, careless operation of a vehicle, and simple criminal damage to property.
Bail was set at $11,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
