At 5:28 this morning (March 17), Eugene Police officers responded to a report of a man, later identified as Malachi Parris Oliver, age 24, of Eugene, breaking into a vehicle at Elmira Road and Hwy. 99N. When officers arrived they located the involved vehicle with a window broken out. Oliver had gotten into it and was driving it eastbound on Elmira Road, just west of Hwy. 99N.
Two officers on foot commanded Oliver to pull over and he complied. Oliver was detained in handcuffs and during an investigation, was uncooperative and appeared intoxicated. They escorted him to a patrol vehicle to secure him, however as they searched him for weapons and means of escape, he tried to pull away from officers, used his body weight against them, and he refused to sit in the patrol vehicle. During this, he abruptly turned and headbutted an officer, and attempted to kick two others while grabbing at their hands. The three officers struggled with Oliver until they were able to apply a flexible restraint device and gained full control. The officer who was headbutted sustained a head injury and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Oliver was lodged at Lane County Jail on charges of DUII, Reckless Driving, Assault on Public Safety Officer, Assault in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest, and Interfering with Police.