DURANGO — An Arizona man has been charged with felony assault and obstruction of a police officer after he allegedly bit a Colorado firefighter and fought with law enforcement following a rollover crash.
that 20-year-old Joe Benally was charged Friday and faces up to six years in prison if convicted on the assault charge.
Authorities say Benally was a passenger in a car that rolled over on February 23 south of Hesperus. After the driver was taken into custody, Benally allegedly started fighting with a firefighter and bit him on the finger.
Benally also allegedly fought with a sheriff’s deputy and state patrol trooper when they tried to put him into handcuffs.
He was freed on his own recognizance after agreeing to show up for future court appearances.
