BELLE MEADE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A pizza delivery man accused of driving the wrong way in Belle Meade has been taken into custody after he allegedly assaulted an officer.
The incident took place on Monday, Feb. 3, at approximately 10:30 p.m. after an officer observed a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction along Belle Meade Boulevard.
Police said the driver —later identified as 24-year-old Abas Hassan— was seen driving northbound in the southbound lanes while delivering a pizza.
After checking his records, officers said they learned Hassan had a warrant out of Wilson County for failure to appear on drug charges.
As seen on bodycam video, police allowed Hassan to use his phone and speak to a family member before being placed into custody.
Timestamps on the video shows that the interaction appeared to be calm for nearly 30 minutes. However, that soon changed after officers allegedly told Hassan to get off the phone to get handcuffed.
“The guy lost his cool when he found out they were going to tow the vehicle because the vehicle didn’t belong to him,” said Lt. Mack Mangrum with the Belle Meade Police Department.
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When officers attempted to arrest Hassan, he reportedly became combative. During a scuffle, police said the 24-year-old headbutted an officer in the nose, which caused blood to draw.
In addition, officers reported they attempted to get Hassan in the police vehicle numerous times, but he continued to refuse. After multiple warnings, they told Hassan that they would deploy pepper spray if he continued to not comply.
“Get into the car or I’m going to spray,” an officer told Hassan.
“Get in the car or I’m going to spray you,” the officer said a second time.
“Get into the car or you’re not going to see at all,” the officer warned a third time.
Following multiple warnings, officers sprayed the suspect who eventually complied and was taken to the Davidson County Jail.
“The officer who was headbutted actually informed him twice that if he did not put his legs in the car, he was going to be sprayed,” Mangrum told News 2. “After being told twice, and even being given a countdown, the officer did spray him with pepper spray at which point he did comply and they were able to get him in the car.”
“I think our officers did a great job, they showed patience, and tried to give him every chance they could and he just did not take advantage of it,” Mangrum added.
Hassan was charged with resisting arrest and assault on an officer. He is being held in Wilson County Jail to face his outstanding warrants.
