Vernon Police: 'Mentally Unstable' Man Fights With Officers at Rockville Walgreens

VERNON, CT — A man described by police as "mentally unstable" clashed with officers at the Rockville Walgreens on Tuesday evening, a police report indicates.

On Tuesday at 7:32 p.m., Vernon police were called to the Walgreens at 188 Union St. after a mother called out for someone to contact police for assistance with her adult son, according to a police report.

A patron called the dispatch center and police were sent to assist, according to a report.

When officers arrived, they found Matthew Gibson, 30, of Natick, MA, outside in the parking lot with his mother, according to a report.

Officers began speaking to Gibson and his mother and learned that they were en route to the southern part of the state and had just stopped briefly at the Walgreens, according to a report. Officers were told that Gibson was “mentally unstable” and off his medications, police said. Gibson had taken his mother’s keys and cell phone and she requested them back, police said.

Neither party had any ties to the area, police said.

Officers attempted to speak with Gibson and Gibson began to to walk away, according to a report.

Officers attempted to detain him and Gibson threw one officer to the ground and hit a parked car, according to a report.

Gibson then ran on foot across traffic to an adjacent business where he fell into a bush, police said.

He continued to fight with officers and was subdued by a Taser, police said.

It took several officers to handcuff Gibson who continued to fight and actively resist them, according to a report. While struggling, Gibson bit the same officer he had thrown to the ground on the hand, according to a report.

The officer was brought to Rockville General Hospital and treated and released later that evening, police said.

Gibson was also brought to Rockville General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and then placed under arrest and charged with assault on a police officer and breach of peace, police records indicate.

He remained at Rockville General Hospital in police custody overnight on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, according to a report.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel