Traffic stop, altercation results in nine charges

Thursday evening at around 8 p.m., Steven Sherwood was observed running a stop sign at the intersection of Wellston and Nelson Drives. Deputy Ondik said that Sherwood was driving a Dodge Durango, and when he called into dispatch to initiate the traffic stop, it was found that there was no valid insurance on the Durango.

When Deputy Ondik approached the vehicle and made contact with Sherwood, he shared that he smelled an odor of perfume coming from the vehicle. Ondik noted that Sherwood was asked to present his license and step from the vehicle, to which the driver complied. Ondik then informed that he proceeded to advise Sherwood that two citations were being issued, one for the stop sign violation, the other for driving with no insurance on the vehicle. Ondik then offered to give Sherwood a ride to wherever he needed to go, or suggested that he could have someone pick him up, but he would need to fill out an inventory form to protect his valuable belongings before the vehicle was towed.

Deputy Ondik shared that he noticed a box of small plastic bags in the console, which he thought was odd, as well as unopened liquor bottles, blunt wrappers, a grinder, a green leafy substance in a bag, a perfume bottle in the door of the vehicle, and another bag of a white substance.

Ondik said that he instructed Sherwood to place his hands behind his back, at which time Sherwood ran between the patrol car and Durango, where Deputy Cuskey, who arrived on the scene before Sherwood exited his vehicle, was able to apprehend him. There was a struggle, Ondik said, but Sherwood was ultimately brought to the ground, where Deputy Cuskey got on top of him.

Deputy Ondik continued that he produced his taser and put it to Sherwood’s upper back, instructing him to put his hands behind his back or he would be tased. Before the taser was turned on, Sherwood said, “It’s over,” and put his right hand behind his back, but kept his left arm out straight. Ondik said that after a moment, he was able to get Sherwood’s left arm, and place him in handcuffs.

Upon searching Sherwood, Ondik shared, a Springfield Armory 40 caliber handgun was found in his waistband, as well as a digital scale found on his person. There were no major injuries to Sherwood, though Houston County EMS was called out on behalf of Deputy Cuskey who had hurt his leg, and was limping.

Sherwood is currently being held without bond at the Houston County Detention Center on nine charges, to include: felony obstruction of an officer, misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, possession of a firearm/knife during the commission of a crime, possession with intent to distribute schedule I-II, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, trafficking in schedule I/II, no insurance/proof of insurance and stop sign and yield signs.

Captain Ronnie Harlowe with the Houston County Sherriff’s Office said that he was glad that the firearm did not come into play during the incident. Harlowe noted that the deputies did a good job in handling the situation in a professional way, and that no one was seriously injured.

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