A Des Moines man was charged Sept. 29 after he allegedly tried to take a police officer’s firearm out of its holster.

According to a series of Iowa City police complaints, Erik Spangrud, 21, was charged after officers were dispatched to 500 S. Riverside Drive after receiving a report of an upset subject threatening self-harm. The complaints said Spangrud was located under a parked vehicle. He allegedly refused to come out from under the vehicle and had to be pulled out by officers. Spangrud became increasingly violent and refused to put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed, according to the report. An officer sustained a laceration on his knuckle and pinky finger during the struggle.

Spangrud allegedly grabbed the grip of an officer’s handgun and violently twisted it, partially releasing the gun. The complaints said officers used a Taser to gain compliance from Spangrud.

Spangrud is charged with disarming a police officer, a Class-D felony, and interference with official acts causing bodily injury, an aggravated misdemeanor.

— by Matt Starns