Woman Punches Missoula Police Officer in the Groin
On March 21st, 2022, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a person needing to be removed from a residence in the 1200 block of S 3rd Street W. A male reported that a female, 28-year-old Tarina Ask, was in his residence and was refusing to leave.
The caller said that he and Ask had been friends for some time. He said he allowed her in his home to use the bathroom and change her clothes, but she began taking her time to complete these tasks. When the caller confronted Ask about taking too long, she started swearing at him. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.
“Officers arrived on scene and made contact with Ask who was in a bedroom and refused to leave the residence,” Arnold said. “Officers spent a good amount of time with Ask explaining to her why she needed to leave and that she was no longer welcome in the home. Ask refused to comply. Ask would put on shoes and take them off. She continued to refuse officer’s requests to leave the residence.”
According to Arnold, officers began to assist Ask out of the residence.
“Ask refused to comply with officers and resisted their efforts to assist her safely out of the house,” Arnold said. “As they were going downstairs, Ask would grab on to the railing, causing a safety issue for her and the officers. Officers had to pry Ask’s hands off the railing so they would not fall down those stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, Ask continued to not comply with officers.”
At the landing of the stairs, Ask pushed her arms outwards and swept at an officer’s chest. The officer advised Ask not to touch him.
“Officer requested she pick up her coat and backpack, and leave,” Arnold said. “Instead, Ask punched an officer in a sensitive area, causing pain to the officer. Ask continued to resist. As officers were placing Ask into handcuffs, she would try and conceal her arm under her body. Officers were able to take Ask into custody and transported Ask to the Missoula County Detention Center.”
Court documents indicate Ask threw a punch with a closed fist directly at the officer’s groin, contacting his genitalia. Throughout the remainder of the officer’s shift, he noted that he continued to feel pain and discomfort in his groin as a result of Ask’s strike.
Ask is currently being charged with felony assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.