Charges laid against man in relation to altercation involving officers

The Calgary Police Service has laid a number of charges against a man in relation to an incident during which an officer was injured.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, two officers responded to a call of an unwanted guest inside a coffee shop in the Trans Canada Mall located at the 1400 block of 52 Street N.E.

The unwanted guest had been in the coffee shop for some time, acting erratic and aggressive towards customers. Attempts were made to ask him to leave by the staff however he refused to do so.

Upon arrival, officers asked the man numerous times to leave the premises. After unsuccessful requests for the man’s identification, for the safety of the public, the man was escorted out by both officers and told he was under arrest for trespassing.

Once outside, the man attempted to pull away. While the officers attempted to control the man all three individuals fell to the ground. The man continued to fight, at which point he punched one officer in the face while biting their hand and punched the second officer in the face.

The man pulled a knife from his pocket and one of the officers was forced to deploy their taser to end the incident.

EMS provided assistance at the scene, with one officer being treated for minor injuries while the other was transported to hospital with a broken nose, broken cheek bone and lacerations to their hand.

The suspect was checked on scene but did not require medical attention.

Neville GEROCA, 35, is charged with:

• Two counts of resisting a public officer or peace officer
• Two counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon
• One count of possession of weapon for dangerous purposes
• One count of assaulting a peace officer causing bodily harm
• One count of assault against a peace officer
• Two counts of failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance
• Two counts of breach of a peace bond

The diligence of staff members at the coffee shop as well as the quick response of officers provided a timely resolution to an incident that had the potential for greater harm to those involved as well as citizens at large.