Missouri man charged with drunken driving, assaulting police officer

A Wildwood, Mo., man arrested for DWI early Tuesday morning also faces other charges, which include an attempt to bite a police officer.

According to Cape Girardeau Police Department spokesman Darin Hickey, at about 12:45 a.m. a vehicle driven by Brandon Michael Gross, 22, was observed entering the front yard of a residence in the 500 block of North Sprigg Street. Units from the police department and the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety were notified, and Gross was pulled over on Normal Avenue near the university. After a field-sobriety test, officers determined Gross was impaired and arrested him for DWI, careless and imprudent driving and property damage, Hickey said.

Hickey said once in custody at the police station, Gross became combative and attempted to bite an officer on the arm. Under a city ordinance, attempted assaults on a police officer fall under misdemeanor assault. Gross was placed in protective custody because of his impaired state and was expected to be released Tuesday afternoon with a summons for each of his charges, Hickey said. His court date is scheduled for April 18 in Cape Girardeau Municipal Court.

Pertinent address:

40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

500 block North Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.