Man facing multiple charges after assault, attempting to disarm police

A 28-year-old man is facing numerous charges following an incident Monday evening at Fairway Plaza South.

At about 9 p.m. Lethbridge Police received a call for assistance from the owner of a business in the 2400 block of Fairway Plaza. The owner advised police “a male is going crazy,” refusing to leave and there was lots of yelling and screaming.

The male was causing a disturbance in the business, was refusing to leave and was suspected to be intoxicated. The male exited the business and then re-entered the business and assaulted the owner, police said in a news release. A business co-owner attempted to assist, was assaulted in the process and received minor injuries as a result.

Police arrived on scene and the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect then threatened to smash the officer’s head. As police started to transport the suspect, he was able to get his handcuffs in front of his body, damage the officer/prisoner partition and grab onto the police rifle with his hands trying to dislodge the weapon from its secure mounts.

The officer operating the police vehicle called for assistance and the male was stopped from gaining complete control of the police rifle. The suspect had to be restrained with a leg restraint and rehandcuffed for everyone’s safety.

Alan Edwin Valin is charged with: assault with intent to resist arrest; causing a disturbance; attempt to disarm a police officer; utter threats to cause death/bodily harm; mischief; conduct detrimental to orderly operation of licensed premises; public intoxication; remaining in licensed premises after requested to leave; and entering licensed premises after forbidden to enter.