EPD Officer Jeremy Greene was flagged down by a member of the public at 5:17 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, after a man was observed behaving erratically in the area of Maxwell and Grove. When Officer Greene contacted the man, later identified as Christopher Leonard Johnson, age 32, Johnson immediately was uncooperative. Officer Greene tried to get Johnson to sit down, and Johnson refused. As Officer Greene attempted to assist Johnson to a seated position, Johnson resisted and then tried to grab Officer Greene around the neck. During the struggle, Officer Greene ended up on the ground with Johnson on top of him. Officer Greene was able to maneuver and create distance and then draw and use his taser, which was successful in gaining control of Johnson.
During this incident, a 53-year-old man from Eugene, saw the struggle and turned his vehicle around and stopped to help Officer Greene until responding cover units could arrive.
Johnson was charged with Assault on a Police Officer and taken into custody on a warrant.