Man gets six months in jail for injuring deputy

Staff Reports

A 32-year-old man who injured a Douglas County sheriff's deputy trying to arrest him was sentenced Wednesday to six months in Douglas County Jail.

Marcel Wyatt pleaded no contest to obstructing a public officer on Nov. 25.

In a letter to East Fork Justice Jim EnEarl, Deputy Brian Hubkey said he tackled Wyatt and dislocated his shoulder and suffered a concussion.

He said he was unconscious for 10 seconds and has no memory of the incident.

Hubkey said he was undergoing reconstructive surgery Thursday and would be unable to return to full duty for six months.

As a result of the injury, Hubkey said he was unable to pick up his two young children.

He said Wyatt had 12 criminal contacts with the sheriff's office in the last two years.

"Mr. Wyatt fails to recognize that his actions can have long-term effects on those individuals who live and work in Douglas County," Hubkey said.

Deputy Ted Jaspers, who also responded to the Nov. 25 incident, described Wyatt as "the most aggressive and uncooperative subject I've every dealt with."

"He seems to be a decent person when sober, but is aggressive, unstable and dangerous when drinking," Jaspers said in a letter to the judge.

Neither officer attended the sentencing.

Lawyer Tod Young objected to the officers' mention of Wyatt's criminal past as having no bearing on the current offense.

"You continue to drink, and when you're drunk, you hurt people," EnEarl said.

Wyatt asked for substance abuse treatment.

"I have been incarcerated a lot, I don't have the tools to help myself," he said.

Wyatt claimed he was defending himself and one of the offers used a Taser to subdue him and attempted to strike him with a billy club.

"Is any of this your fault because of your alcoholism?" EnEarl asked. "Let's work on that first."

If Wyatt successfully completes substance abuse treatment, EnEarl said he would review his six-month sentence.

The Nov. 25 altercation took place at a Gardnerville convenience store.

Wyatt was stopped after a deputy spotted someone matching the description of a man who made threats at a local motel.

When the deputy tried to pat down Wyatt, he began to struggle.

Video from the store allegedly showed Wyatt taking a swing at the officer, who used his Taser.

The struggle continued when backup officers arrived, eventually subduing Wyatt.