Man charged after allegedly punching cop and trying to grab gun

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged after he allegedly punched a police officer last week and tried to take his gun.

Charles Nichols, 24, was charged with attempting to disarm a peace officer while on duty, fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest.

On Friday, Columbia police allegedly received a report of a suicidal person walking from Geyser Drive towards Wolf Trail Drive. The caller said Nichols said something about wanting law enforcement to kill him, according to the probable cause statement. The caller was not sure if Nichols had a weapon.

Police found Nichols walking south on Lake of the Woods Road and told him to stop several times. One officer took out a taser and threatened to shoot. Nichols kept walking towards a busy intersection, according to the probable cause statement.

An officer grabbed Nichols and Nichols allegedly punched him in the face. As officers worked to gain control of Nichols, another officer arrived and said Nichols was attempting to grab one of the officer’s guns out of its holster, according to the probable cause statement.