In brief: Man arrested after struggle

Whitman County deputies struggling to arrest a Colfax man twice used a taser, shot him with a beanbag fired from a 12-gauge shotgun, and finally resorted to gang-tackling and handcuffing him inside his home.

The episode began at about 11:10 p.m. Friday when an angry Gerald S. Murphy reportedly threatened his neighbors, according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.

An officer was hurt during the struggle with Murphy, who then barricaded himself in his home. Officials say he then began breaking his windows and cut himself.

His refusal to comply with orders and fears that he had seriously wounded himself led deputies and other officials to force their way into his home. Murphy was taken to the Whitman Community Hospital, and booked into jail.