Man tased, arrested in Pocatello church sentenced to probation
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POCATELLO — A man tased and arrested last May when he refused to leave a church in Pocatello has been sentenced to probation and community service.
Lamar Richard Williams, 31, pleaded guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance following an agreement with the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, according to court documents. He was originally charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, and a misdemeanor for resisting arrest. The felony was amended and the misdemeanor was dismissed as part of the agreement.
At an April 4 hearing, 6th District Judge Rick Carnaroli sentenced him to spend three years on felony probation.
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Investigative reports show Pocatello Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of Caldwell Park on May 19 for a welfare check following calls reporting a man screaming.
Unable to locate the screaming man, responding officers were flagged down by members of an LDS church in the neighborhood. Church-goers informed officers that an unwanted man, later identified as Williams, was inside the church and would not leave.
Williams refused the officers’ orders to leave, and after a scuffle was tased and taken to jail.
In addition to probation, Williams was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service and pay $1,068 in fees and fines.