AMSTERDAM - A city man was arrested this morning after a violent incident that included slashing tires, assaulting a woman and punching four police officers, city police said.
Gabriel Arroyo, 27, of 40 Division St., was taken into custody at his home shortly after midnight after a struggle with officers. Police said at the time of his arrest, he was trying to get into a closet where he was hiding a shotgun.
Arroyo faces four felony charges, including criminal contempt, assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal mischief.
He also was charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and four counts of harassment.
A woman on Reid Street told city police Arroyo entered her home, punched her in the face, then went back outside, slashed four tires on her vehicle and fled before police arrived, officials said.
The woman has an order of protection against Arroyo, police said.
While police searched the Reid Street area for Arroyo, they received a call that he was creating a disturbance at his home.
When officers attempted to speak to Arroyo, he allegedly began yelling at officers, then tried to enter a closet where he'd hidden a pistol-grip shotgun.
Officers arrested him as he tried to get into the closet, but police said Arroyo responded violently, swinging at officers and punching four of them in the head and face before he was subdued.
One officer was treated for a head injury by Amsterdam Fire Department paramedics, authorities said.
Officers recovered the knife that was used to slash the tires and the shotgun.
Police said an investigation revealed Arroyo loaded the shotgun when he learned police were looking for him.
Arroyo was held for arraignment in City Court.
Police Detective Lt. Kurt Conroy and Chief Greg Culick could not be reached for comment this morning.
Bill Pitcher is the city editor. He can be reached at news@leaderherald.com.