Moniteau County man assaults officers, K-9

Moniteau County Sheriff's Department K-9 Officer Apollo
Moniteau County Sheriff's Department K-9 Officer Apollo

A California man is facing multiple charges after allegedly attacking law officers during a vehicle stop early Friday morning in Moniteau County.

Deputies conducted a vehicle stop around 2 a.m. on U.S. 50 at Forrest Road for an equipment violation, according to Moniteau County Sheriff's Department reports.

Deputies asked the driver, Skyler Williams, 31, of California, to step out of the vehicle and obtained consent to search. As deputies began the search, Williams ran back to the vehicle and attempted to retrieve a semi-automatic handgun. Deputies then grabbed Williams, who began to fight. They deployed a Taser, which had no affect on Williams, who attempted to take a handgun from the holster of one of the deputies.

K-9 Apollo, who was on the scene, engaged Williams. Williams let the deputy go and began attempting to choke the K-9 as he fled onto the grass area beside the road. Officers with the California Police Department arrived and deployed another Taser, taking Williams into custody and transporting him to the Moniteau County Jail.

Deputies located methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia, digital scales and marijuana in Williams' vehicle. The methamphetamine and marijuana appeared to be packaged for sale. Deputies also found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the front seat area of the vehicle.

Williams is being charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, four counts of assault, unlawful use of a weapon, disarming a police officer in the performance of his duties, resisting arrest and assault on a police animal. As of Friday evening, he was being held on $250,000 bond.

Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley thanked the police officers for assisting his deputies.

"I believe that without the presence of the K-9 who engaged and drew the attacker off of the deputy there would have been either the deputy or suspect seriously injured or killed," Wheatley said in a news release. "K-9 Apollo survived the incident with no injuries. The deputies have minor injuries and cuts from the altercation. This is the exact reason why we pushed so hard to add another K-9 to the Department. He just may have made the difference between the deputy going home or not."