Sheriff's Reports 4-18-24: Combative man wrestles with deputies during arrest

A man found passed out in a vehicle became combative with deputies who were arresting him.

On April 15, Cherokee County Sheriff's Lt. Tanner Hendley was dispatched to assist with a noise complaint on Timber Trail Road. Deputy Shawn Cowart arrived to find a man passed out in a vehicle that was parked in a driveway. Hendley knocked on the vehicle windows to awaken the man, but a woman nearby began yelling at deputies and said the man was sleeping. Genaro Castillo Jr. eventually awoke and removed the keys from the ignition. He told deputies he was intoxicated before he was told to exit the vehicle. Castillo was told he was going to be arrested after he allegedly refused to comply with a field sobriety test. The man pulled away from Hendley and resisted. He was taken to the ground and continued to resist arrest. Cowart pulled his Taser and drive-stunned Castillo's lower back. Castillo was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center and booked for resisting arrest and driving under the influence.

On April 12, Deputy Joseph Burkett was dispatched to reports of a woman who was allegedly hitting a man with a stick. The man accused Rebecca Yount of assaulting him. Burkett advised Yount she was under arrest but she tried to pull away. The woman was arrested and reportedly combative while she was transported to jail. According to Burkett, Yount was pepper-sprayed when she became combative with detention officers. She was booked for assault and battery.

On April 13, Deputy Jacob Phelps responded to Tenkiller Lodge due to reports of a man who was screaming and kicking doors. The deputy arrived to find Jeremy Wayne Van Tuyl yelling to himself. Van Tuyl refused to come talk to Phelps and admitted to consuming "a bunch of vodka." Van Tuyl was arrested for public intoxication and booked.