Officer injured after altercation
By Amy Robinson
Farmer Staff Writer
A 20-year-old man from Grand Forks is facing five felony charges and one misdemeanor charge after a traffic stop quickly escalated and a Watford City Police officer was injured.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, at approximately 2:55 p.m., a white 2013 Dodge Dart being driven by Allen Weah, drove past Watford City Police Officer Jeffrey Jensen, who was parked on the side of the detoured road at the Watford City Municipal Airport watching traffic, and flipped Jensen off as he drove past.
Jensen checked the driving record of the registered owner, who was Weah, and was informed that Weah held a suspended driver’s license.
Weah was observed driving down the frontage road onto 4th Avenue NE, and then pulled into the south entrance of the McKenzie Building Center, where Weah stopped his vehicle. Jensen then pulled in front of Weah and activated his overhead emergency lights, initiating a traffic stop.
Jensen ordered Weah to stop, as Weah began to drive toward the driver’s side of Jensen’s patrol vehicle. According to court documents, Weah was upset and started to yell at Jensen while he had part of his body outside of the window.
Weah refused to provide Jensen with his driver’s license or get out of the vehicle as lawfully ordered. Weah then rolled his window up, locked his doors, and drove away. Upon calling for assistance, Jensen returned to his patrol vehicle, activated his siren, and started to pursue Weah.
Weah then drove west on 4th Avenue NE, then on to the north frontage road, which was closed and under construction. Weah drove through the closed frontage road, where numerous construction workers were working. Weah then entered the parking lot of S & S Motors at a high rate of speed. He then turned back east and drove through two dirt parking lots toward the front entrance of Blue Lube & Repair, where numerous people were outside, including a male holding a small infant.
Weah then stopped in front of the Blue Lube & Repair entrance and exited his vehicle. Weah refused to follow the officer’s commands to get on the ground. He was then taken to the ground and started to actively resist Jensen’s attempts to put his hands behind his back.
Weah refused to put his hands behind his back after being ordered to numerous times, and started to kick Jensen with his feet. An employee at Blue Lube & Repair assisted the officer in removing Weah’s arms from underneath his body and Jensen was able to place handcuffs on Weah’s wrists behind his back. Weah continued to kick Jensen as he was handcuffed.
Watford City Police Detective Joshua Trevena and Officer Andrew Eisenschenk arrived on the scene to assist. Weah continued to kick the officers while they waiting for other assisting units to arrive. Weah stated to the three officers that he was going to kill them and everyone.
Trevena and Eisenschenk picked Weah up and escorted him to the back seat of Jensen’s patrol vehicle. Weah refused to sit in the back seat. He continued to kick at officers and ultimately kicked and removed the officer’s rear-facing camera and struck his head on the prisoner partition numerous times.
While in the officer’s patrol vehicle, Weah made repeated death threats toward the officers. Upon arrival at the McKenzie County Jail, Weah refused to exit the vehicle and walk into the jail. It took four officers to carry Weah from the back of the patrol vehicle and into the jail cell.
After the incident, Jensen felt pain in his left shoulder and was unable to lift his left arm past 45 degrees. The officer was checked out by hospital staff, and was told to wait until the swelling went down to check for injuries.
Weah has been charged with Reckless Endangerment - a Class C Felony, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Peace Officer - a Class C Felony, Terrorizing - a Class C Felony, Preventing Arrest or Discharge of Other Duties - a Class C Felony, Simple Assault on a Peace Officer - a Class C Felony, and Driving Under Suspension - a Class B Misdemeanor.
Weah’s bond was set at $50,000 cash or corporate surety and a Preliminary Hearing and/or Arraignment has been scheduled for Jan. 21, 2016, at 8:30 a.m., with Judge El-Dweek presiding.