Man Charged With Injuring Cop Also Hurt Officers at Time of Arrest, Resisted Transport: Judge

SOUTHOLD, NY — His feet shackled and his hands in cuffs, wearing blue pants and a shirt, the man charged with injuring a Southold police officer in justice court was brought back before the judge Wednesday morning — where it was learned he'd tried to hurt officers at the time of his arrest and resisted transport on Tuesday.

Four police officers accompanied Michael David to court; one officer wore protective orange gloves when leading the prisoner inside.

Southold Town Justice William Price began the proceedings by stating information for the record, saying he had been told his "decision was incorrect" for a number of reasons he'd had no prior knowledge of, information he was supposed to have known but was not told, he said.

First, Price said, "An officer was hurt at the time of arrest."

And in addition, Price said, when Davis was slated for a second arraignment Tuesday on charges of injuring an officer, "the police had difficulty moving him from one place to another."

Price said he had been told Davis "needed a psychiatric exam."

Davis will be defended by the legal aid society; no one was able to be present for the arraignment Wednesday, which was adjourned until Thursday at 10 a.m

Price re-set bail at $1,000 cash bail for each of the five counts, or $2,000 bond, for a total of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

The second arraignment of Michael Davis, charged with injuring a police officer at Southold Justice Court on Monday, was initially held off Tuesday because it was believed the defendant is in the hospital, police said.

"He is still in the hospital for an evaluation, and upon release will be re-arrested on yesterday afternoon’s charges," Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley told Patch.

Meanwhile, Davis' girlfriend, Nyasia Coach, was arraigned Tuesday; her bail was set at $250 cash or $500 bond.
Coach appeared before Justice Bill Price and was represented by Westhampton Beach-based attorney Christian Killoran, who said his client pleaded not guilty.

He said she was a lifelong Long Island resident, who has lived in Riverhead and Greenport, and has a large family in the area, including her parents, brothers and cousins. Coach, he said, works at Salamander's in Greenport and has no criminal history and was facing a "single misdemeanor charge"; he asked that she be released on her own recognizance.

As for the allegation that she is homeless, Killoran said his client, along with Davis, had been staying with friends in the residence where the incident occurred and said she had other friends she could stay with upon her release.

Judge says justice court incident "could have been tragic"

On Tuesday, Price told Patch that justice court security, which has been under discussion with the town board for more than a year, with a new metal detector installed, is still an issue.

"That risk is always present. In this situation the metal detector was irrelevant. Officer Christopher Salmon and the court officers contained the incident immediately in front of the bench and did what was necessary to avoid injuries bystanders as well as the court staff," he said.

"We are lucky that the arraignment took place during traffic court while the court officers were present. If the defendant had got out of the courtroom and into the other part of the town hall it could have been tragic," Price said.

"There seemed to be issues" with the police radios, Price said.

Air pistol brandished

The incident began when a homeless man brandished an air pistol that appeared to be a real gun after entering a Greenport home.

According to Southold Town Police, the incident took place Monday at 8:46 a.m. on Main Street in Greenport, when a report was received about a dispute involving a man who appeared to be in possession of a handgun.

Davis, 22, who is currently homeless, is alleged to have unlawfully entered a home on Main Street in Greenport and, after being confronted by the owner of the residence, produced the air pistol, police said.
Davis, who was highly agitated, resisted arrest, police said.

Coach, 20, Davis’ girlfriend, attempted to prevent officers from arresting Davis; she was also taken into custody, police said.

Davis also intentionally damaged a police radio, police said. Davis was charged with criminal trespass, menacing, two counts of criminal mischief, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration, police said.

Coach was charged with obstructing governmental administration, police said.

Davis was arraigned in Southold Justice Court, police said.

During arraignment, Davis was agitated and unruly, police said.

Price ordered Davis released on his own recognizance, police said.

However, while still in the courtroom, Davis began to make numerous threats to himself and others and had to be taken back into custody, police said.

Davis then struggled with police and court officers, causing injury to Southold Town Police Officer Salmon, police said.

Davis was transported back to Southold Police headquarters and was then also charged with second degree assault, a felony, and obstruction governmental administration, police said.

David was held overnight and was supposed to appear again in Southold Justice Court on Tuesday to be arraigned on the additional charges, police said; that arraignment was held off until his release from the hospital.

On Wednesday, he appeared subdued and said nothing in the courtroom.

On Tuesday night, the PBA came before the town board en masse, to express concern about a radio transmission failure that meant calls for help went unheeded; Supervisor Scott Russell said a consultant was being hired to address the situation and the town stands ready to help.