Deputy uses Taser on Lonsdale man who allegedly fled
A Garland County sheriff’s deputy reportedly used a Taser on a Lonsdale man Sunday night after he allegedly fled briefly from a traffic stop and then reportedly became aggressive with the deputy after stopping.
Thomas Luke Dickson, 41, who lists an Ault Loop address, was taken into custody shortly before 9 p.m. and charged with misdemeanor counts of fleeing in a vehicle and resisting arrest, each punishable by up to one year in jail.
Dickson remained in custody Monday in lieu of a $2,000 bond and is set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court. According to court records, he was previously arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct on Nov. 29 with those charges pending and previously pleaded no contest on Sept. 8 to third-degree domestic battery and was sentenced to 75 days in jail. He was previously convicted on June 7 of violation of a no-contact order and sentenced to one year in jail, with all of it suspended, all this year in Garland County.
According to the probable cause affidavit on Sunday’s arrest, shortly before 8:30 p.m., sheriff’s Deputy Chris Brinsfield was patrolling in the 5100 block of Millcreek Road when he saw an oncoming black Jeep Cherokee that was partially in his lane and speeding.
He turned around to follow but the vehicle was out of sight. He located it again in the 5300 block of Millcreek and activated his lights and siren to make a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as Dickson, accelerated and turned down a dirt driveway.
Dickson reportedly opened the driver’s door while the vehicle was still in motion, got out and then got back in. He
stopped his vehicle, got out again and “started quickly walking my way,” Brinsfield said.
Due to his manner of driving and “attitude” as he was approaching, Brinsfield drew his service weapon and ordered Dickson to the ground. Dickson allegedly refused to follow any orders and would not stop moving around.
Brinsfield noted that Dickson was moving so much he could see he didn’t appear to have any weapons on him so the deputy holstered his gun and drew his Taser. Dickson continued walking around the vehicle, taking steps toward Brinsfield and began “yelling and cursing.”
The deputy again ordered Dickson to get on the ground, but Dickson allegedly began walking toward the deputy while continuing to yell and curse “in an aggressive manner.” As he continued to ignore his commands to stop, Brinsfield deployed his Taser, striking Dickson in the chest and left shoulder.
Dickson was reportedly not affected by the Taser and “ripped the wires from the prongs.” Brinsfield said he attempted to deescalate the situation until backup arrived and when other deputies got there Dickson finally calmed down and they were able to have a conversation.
LifeNet responded and evaluated Dickson and cleared him to be taken into custody.