Columbia man arrested after spraying tear gas in deputy’s face

A Columbia man is behind bars Tuesday after he allegedly sprayed tear gas in the face of a Boone County Sheriff’s deputy.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said a deputy was assisting Columbia police officers during a traffic stop Monday night near Highway 763 and Brown School Road when the incident happened.

When the deputy arrived to help police, he found officers chasing two men. The officers had tried to pull a vehicle over that had been reported stolen.

The deputy chased one of the men, 18-year-old Quaemonn I.L. Wilkerson, and when he caught him, Wilkerson reportedly sprayed the deputy with tear gas.

The BCSD said the deputy used a TASER on Wilkerson, who sprayed more tear gas at the deputy. A Columbia police officer used another TASER on Wilkerson and law enforcement were able to arrest him.

Wilkerson was arrested on charges of second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, armed criminal action and resisting arrest.

Police captured the other suspect, a 16-year-old male, and turned him over to juvenile authorities. The Sheriff’s Department said he would face charges of tampering and resisting arrest.