Resisting and Obstructing a Peace Officer Arrest

On August 19, 2017, approximately 6:28 a.m., a Sonora Police Officer responded to the 300 block of S. Washington Street for a report of an intoxicated male. The officer arrived in the area and located the male, who was identified as Danny Norton, Jr, 33 years old of Sonora. The Officer observed that Norton was drinking from an open container of an alcoholic beverage in one hand and holding a bag containing unknown items in another hand. The Officer attempted to contact Norton and Norton charged the officer as he exited his patrol vehicle. The officer pointed his department issued Taser at Norton and issued Norton several verbal commands to stop and lay on the ground. Norton disobeyed the commands and took a fighting stance towards the officer, while holding the bag of unknown items in his hand. Norton grabbed the end of the bag and cocked his arm back as if to use the bag and/or its contents as a weapon against the officer. The Officer deployed his Taser, which struck Norton. Norton eventually complied with the officers’ commands and was taken into custody without further incident. Norton was transported to the Tuolumne County Jail and booked on charges of delaying/obstructing a peace officer and possession of an open container of alcohol on a public street.