When deputies responded to a fight at a Fourth of July party and took one man into custody, he allegedly was kicking and swinging at them, knocking one deputy’s glasses off and wrapping his legs around the legs of another.

John C. Melton, 54, of rural Bloomfield, was arrested by Deputy Davis Aerne early Sunday, July 5, following an incident that occurred late on Saturday, July 4.

Around 11:41 p.m. on Saturday, the Fourth of July, a rural resident called the sheriff’s department and said there was a large fight going on the back yard of his house on North Fire Station Road. Deputy Aerne was dispatched along with GCSD Reserve Deputy Josh Gluch.

When they arrived, they found a shirtless Melton in a large grass field behind the residence, yelling while a white pickup truck was headed away through the tall grass then up into the woods.

When Deputy Aerne approached Melton, he continued to yell and when asked to calm down, Melton swung an arm at the deputy, grazing a shoulder. Deputy Aerne reported Melton was intoxicated, belligerent and was yelling obscenities. Melton then claimed the people in the truck had stolen $300 out of his room. He also said he’d invited them to come there – he’d invited people from the area to a large party that included a band. Melton allegedly said he’d kill them if he saw them again.

The deputies then talked to several people who told about seeing a fight, seeing other individuals help to break it up, then seeing two men and one woman run and leave the area in the truck.

GCSD Deputy Zachary Goad also responded and he talked to a couple who allegedly said Melton lived with them at the residence and that Melton had been causing issues all day, and had been confrontational for the past few weeks.

When the deputies located and talked to the people who had left, one man told them Melton had tried to grab his daughter and when Melton was told to stop, a couple of others came up and wanted to fight. He said he was trying to leave but got hit at least three times. He had redness and scratches under both eyes. He said he didn’t know who jumped him but he was defending himself.

When they talked to the man’s daughter, she said Melton grabbed her arms and said, “You’re mine.” She said she started screaming. There were bruising marks around the top and bottom of her upper arms.

By the time the deputies talked to the man and his daughter, the other individual who had been with them had left to go home.

When the deputies returned to the residence to talk to Melton again, the female resident said Melton had just threatened to kill her and had started to go after her husband and son-in-law. When she opened the door, Deputy Aerne said he could see Melton crouch down behind a bed with a silver pocket knife opened on the floor.

Deputies entered the room and Melton was taken into custody but was belligerent and tried to pull away and would not walk. Deputy Aerne reported Melton was yelling obscenities at him, and he continued to yell.

Deputies were advised Melton was a diabetic and an ambulance responded for a medical check on Melton. He did not cooperate.

While escorting Melton to the ambulance, he allegedly kneed Deputy Aerne and stuck out his leg in an attempt to trip the deputy. He then locked both legs. Melton refused to sit down in the ambulance and after EMTs checked Melton’s blood sugar level, Melton refused to get out of the ambulance then wrapped his legs around Deputy Gluch’s legs. When Deputy Aerne attempted to put leg restraints on, Melton allegedly tried to kick him and hit the deputy in the head with his own head, knocking the deputy’s glasses off. Once at the jail, Melton refused to cooperate with taking the leg restraints off and tried to kick Deputy Goad.

While they were still on the scene, one individual told Deputy Aerne they had taken video of one altercation and would provide it to him.

Melton was booked in around 3:30 a.m. His bond was set at $11,500 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of late Wednesday, he had not yet posted bond and remained in jail.

When he appears in court for an initial hearing, Melton is facing charges of:

• Battery against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony,

• Intimidation, threat is to commit a forcible felony, a Level 6 felony,

• Battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Resisting law enforcement - knowingly or intentionally forcibly resists, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Refusal to aid an officer, a Class B misdemeanor, and

• Disorderly conduct – engaged in fighting or tumultuous conduct, a Class B misdemeanor.