Tussle with man resisting arrest leaves Spokane police officer with broken arm

A Spokane police officer broke his arm Tuesday during an arrest of an uncooperative man, Spokane police said.

Spokane police officers stopped a group of people who were trespassing and drinking alcohol in public on Tuesday afternoon at Sprague Avenue and Howard Street.

One of the men in the group, Aaron J. Vanderweele, lied to police about who he was, police said in a news release.

Officers said they continued to try and identify Vanderweele, who was drinking a beer when police arrived.

Vanderweele became aggressive, yelling at police and saying he had “been to prison,” police said.

When officers identified Vanderweele, they discovered he had a warrant out for his arrest.

Vanderweele allegedly clenched his fists and tensed up when officers attempted to arrest him. Police said he then pulled away and tried to run, but he was taken to the ground by police. One of the officers went down in the struggle and injured his wrist and arm, police said.

The officer was taken to the hospital, where he was told he had a broken bone. He will be on light duty for a few weeks while the injury heals, police said.

Vanderweele was booked on charges of second-degree criminal trespass, resisting arrest and making a false statement to a public servant. He has since been released from Spokane County Jail pending further court hearings.