ROCK SPRINGS — A local pizza restaurant was shut down after an alleged altercation between a man and the Rock Springs Police Department Wednesday afternoon.

RSPD Chief Bill Erspamer said officers were dispatched to Pizza Hut for a report of an intoxicated man at the restaurant. He said officers arrived and found the man passed out at a booth table with a bottle of whiskey. He said officers attempted to wake the man up and alleged the man became combative when he woke up.

“When he did wake up, things became a little bit combative,” he said. “They decided they were going to arrest him for public intox – that’s when he pulled a knife out on our guys.”

Erspamer said officers retreated from the situation and called for backup, then tried to negotiate with the man. He alleged the man wouldn’t put the knife down, which resulted in officers shooting him with a bean bag round and using a Taser to subdue him. Erspamer said while the man was in custody, he needed “severe medical attention” and was transported to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. 

“It is my understanding that he is doing well at the hospital right now,” Erspamer said.