A 33-year-old man faces up to 36 years in prison after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer and biting a firefighter’s face while under the influence of drugs.
Rydell Pettaway, of Williamsburg, was found guilty of resisting arrest, assaulting a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding and attempted abduction Tuesday afternoon in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.
Pettaway was also found not guilty of driving under the influence.
According to witness testimony, Pettaway attempted to enter a young woman’s car at an intersection on April 5, 2016 after his own car rolled into a ditch outside of Carquest Auto Parts, located at 7976 Richmond Road.
The woman, who had two children in the car she had just picked up from school, testified that she was turning left at the intersection of Richmond and Forge roads when Pettaway tried to enter her car. The woman, who is in her mid-twenties, was caring for the children, but they did not belong to her.
She said Pettaway pulled on the passenger door handle, banged on the window and told her to open the door.
After a few moments, she was able to turn left and call 911.
Police arrived on scene at 3:34 p.m. in response to a vehicle accident, James City County officer Jeremy Morris said. Several firefighters also arrived on scene from the James City-Bruton Volunteer Fire Department, which is also located at the intersection of Forge and Richmond roads.
Pettaway was attempting to get something from his car when police arrived. Morris said he had bloodshot and glassy eyes and smelled of marijuana.
“He said he had lost his mind for a little bit,” Morris said, adding that Pettaway said he used marijuana and a synthetic cannabinoid called “spice.” He also said he had been operating his vehicle.
When the officer started to search the man, he moved away and tried to leave, Morris said. When Morris attempted to put him under arrest, he continued to struggle.
Three firefighters assisted the officer, but were unable to gain control of Pettaway, the firefighter who was bitten testified in court Tuesday.
“We were quickly losing control of the situation,” the firefighter said.
The officer then tased Pettaway, who fell to the ground. Pettaway ripped off his sweatshirt, however, and ran into the woods behind the Carquest, Morris said.
Both the officer and at least one firefighter followed Pettaway into the woods.
While the firefighter waited for the officer to arrive, he saw Pettaway take a few steps toward him. Believing he may be in danger, the firefighter closed the gap between them and bear-hugged Pettaway so he fell to the ground, the firefighter testified.
“At that point I thought ‘Oh, I really could be in trouble here,’” the firefighter said, adding that Pettaway was growling loudly as he bit him.
When the officer neared the pair on the ground, he heard the firefighter screaming and saw Pettaway on top of him. The firefighter had a large bite wound on the left side of his face and blood running down his neck, Morris said.
Prosecutor Laura McVay showed several photos in court of the firefighter’s injuries from the incident.
After the officer pulled Pettaway off the firefighter and they waited for another officer to arrive, Pettaway grabbed the officer’s groin twice and needed his hand physically removed from the officer’s body, Morris said.
Police took Pettaway into custody and brought him to the car when the second officer arrived on scene.
The second officer said in court the man was rambling and not making sense.
Jon Dalgleish, a forensic toxicologist with the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, said the aggressive, violent and behavior could stem from use of spice, although there are no blood tests that currently test for the synthetic drug.
Judge Michael McGinty dismissed a charge of driving under the influence because there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove Pettaway was driving while intoxicated.
Pettaway and the firefighter were taken to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center where the firefighter was treated for bite wounds. Pettaway was sedated, police said.
On April 9, Pettaway was charged with malicious wounding, assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. He was also charged with attempted carjacking, but that charge was dropped.
Pettaway’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 9 at 9 a.m. in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.
Fearing may be reached at sarah.f@localvoicemedia.com.
