LAKEPORT, Calif. – A community member came to the assistance of a Lakeport Police officer on Friday, helping take into custody a Lucerne man who fought the officer during an arrest.

Joseph Dexter Taylor, 40, was arrested following the Friday afternoon incident, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said county resident Mauro Lopez Jr., 38, assisted Lakeport Police Officer Joe Eastham in subduing Taylor after Taylor began fighting Eastham.

“Although we strongly discourage and recommend against citizens from attempting to assist in these types of situations for their own safety and protection, we do appreciate, thank and commend Mr. Lopez for his actions in helping to take Taylor into custody quickly and safely without injury to himself or Officer Eastham,” Rasmussen said in a Saturday afternoon report.

At approximately 4:50 p.m. Friday Eastham was dispatched to the area of N. Main and Third streets to investigate the report of a male acting erratically and obstructing traffic while out in the roadway stripping his clothing and redressing, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said Eastham responded and located the subject – later identified as Taylor – who was displaying numerous signs and symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Taylor became uncooperative and walked away from Eastham, who Rasmussen said had determined that Taylor needed to be detained in handcuffs.  

Eastham gave Taylor numerous commands to place his hands behind his back, Rasmussen said. Only after being ordered at Taser-point did Taylor partially comply by placing his right hand behind his back while at the same time placing his left hand behind his head.  

Rasmussen said Eastham was able to place one handcuff on Taylor’s left hand. However, as Eastham attempted to apply the second handcuff to Taylor's right hand, Taylor began resisting in an effort to prevent the application of the second handcuff and also made a death threat to Eastham.

Eastham gave Taylor further orders to comply and advised him that further force would be used if he did not. Rasmussen said Eastham placed Taylor against the wall of a nearby building in an effort to control his movements and prevent him from escaping.  

Taylor attempted to turn into Eastham and place a headlock on him, but Rasmussen said Eastham was able to back away to a safe distance and immediately prepared to fire his Taser at Taylor.  

At the same instant, Lopez – who had been driving past and witnessed the incident – took Taylor by surprise, tackling him from behind and taking him to the ground in a prone position while Eastham completed handcuffing Taylor, Rasmussen said.  

Rasmussen said backup law enforcement units arrived and assisted with securing Taylor in the patrol unit. During transport to the Lake County Jail, Taylor again made a threat of violence to Officer Eastham.

Taylor was booked into the jail on felony charges of resisting an executive officer by means of threat or violence, and misdemeanor charges of resisting and obstructing a peace officer and being under the influence of a controlled substance, Rasmussen said.

Taylor is a convicted felon with a history of violence and resisting law enforcement by violence, according to Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said Taylor’s record includes numerous prior arrests for obstructing a peace officer and resisting an executive officer by threat or violence, exhibiting a firearm to resist arrest, several priors for threatening to commit crimes with intent to terrorize, burglary, elder abuse, assault, vehicle theft, several drug related priors including possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance and numerous parole and probation violations.