About 3:10 P.M. on May 22, 2015, police units were dispatched to a report of at stolen box truck in a parking lot in the 400 block of Oriana Road and that the truck was occupied by at least one male. The information that was received was that the truck had just been stolen from Grand Rental Station in the 12500 block of Warwick Boulevard and that a report was currently being taken.
The officers located the truck and saw that it was occupied by at least one male. Two officers approached the driver side door and two officers approached the passenger side door. An officer at the driver's door told the occupant to show his hands as the he (the officer) opened the door. he occupant did not comply with the officers instructions and began arguing with the officer. As the officer continued to instruct the occupant to get out of the truck, he attempted to control the occupant's hands and escort the man from the truck. The occupant continued to be argumentative and pulled away from the officer. As the officer attempted to control the occupant (suspect), the suspect grabbed the officer around the throat and began squeezing and pushed the officer against the truck. A second officer saw the suspect choking the officer and began striking the suspect with his fist in an attempt to cause the suspect to release his grip on the victim officer's throat. The victim officer was also striking the suspect with his fist in an attempt to escape the suspect's grasp. Both officers continued striking the suspect until he released his grip on the victim officer's throat. A third officer attempted to use their "taser" but the probes missed their target. The victim officer continued to give the suspect verbal instructions to get out of the truck. The suspect continued to ignore the instructions. The victim officer was able to deploy his "taser" striking the suspect. The suspect got out of the truck but continued to ignore instructions to lie on the ground. The officer activated his "taser" a second time as another officer kicked the suspect in the leg in an effort to put the suspect on the ground to better control the situation. The suspect was then taken to the ground and handcuffed.
Medics were called to the scene to evaluate both the suspect and the victim officer. Neither required any further medical attention.
The suspect refused to identify himself to officers. He was transported to the magistrates' office where he was identified and served with warrants charging him with one count each of assault and battery on a law enfocement officer, strangulation, resisting arrest and possession of stolen property. Another unrelated warrant for failure to appear in court was also served.
The suspect is identified as Orestes Thomas Guerra, 28, of the 100 block of Matoka Drive in Newport News.