May 4, 2015 2 min read

A Washington police officer was injured early Sunday while he and another officer were taking a suspect into custody outside a Jefferson Avenue business.

Dennis Phillips, 35, who has no known address, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and false identification to police after he was found outside Pathways, 655 Jefferson Ave., about 1:40 a.m. Officer John Hritz injured his elbow when Phillips allegedly struggled with him and Officer Daniel Grossman as they tried to place him in handcuffs.

Police were called to the building for a report of an alarm activation at the front door, and police say Phillips was spotted standing next to the front door. When police arrived, he started to approach. While one officer talked with him, another checked the door and found it open.

When police asked Phillips what he was doing, he told them he was waiting for a ride. He also reportedly started to become agitated.

Police asked for his name and birth date, and he reportedly gave two different dates of birth.

When it appeared he was giving police false information, they tried to take him into custody.

Phillips allegedly threw his head back toward Hritz and started yelling obscenities. When the two officers tried to take him into custody, the three got tangled in the jacket and overalls that Phillips was wearing.

While taking him to Washington Hospital for treatment of a cut on his head, Phillips reportedly told police that he entered the building because he wanted to use the bathroom.

Hritz was treated at the hospital for his injury.

Phillips was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in Washington County Jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for May 14 before District Judge Robert Redlinger.