Handcuffed Suspect Spits, Bites Officer During Arrest: Police

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A shoplifting suspect is facing felony assault charges after spitting at and biting Fredericksburg City police officers while he was being taken into custody last Wednesday, according to authorities.

An FPD officer reported that he'd arrested Clifton Rhines just north of the College Avenue intersection. Rhines was suspect in a shoplifting incident that occurred earlier in the day at CVS, according to the incident report.

Initially complying with the officer's commands, Rhines was handcuffed behind his back, according to police. However, he became angry and threatened to spit at the officer.

The officer then tried to push Rhines to the ground with the help of another officer, but Rhines spit on one of them, according to the incident report. Eventually, with the help of Sheriff Scott Foster and a deputy from the sheriff's office, the two officers succeeded in getting the suspect on the ground.

"While officers were restraining Rhines, he bit an officer's finger, resulting in a significant injury," according to the report. "Medical professionals later confirmed that the officer's finger was broken."

Rhines was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he was cited on misdemeanor charges of shoplifting and obstruction, as well as felony charges of assault on a law enforcement officer and assault on a law enforcement officer causing severe bodily injury, according to FPD. He was then held without bond.

On Aug. 14, Rhines was arraigned in Fredericksburg General District Court and an attorney review was scheduled for Aug. 21, according to court documents. A prelimiary hearing date was not set.

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If convicted on the assault on a law enforcement officer charge, which is Class 6 felony, Rhines faces a possible prison sentence of one to five years, or alternatively, up to 12 months in jail and a fine not exceeding $2,500, according to Virginia law.

The assault on a law enforcement officer causing severe bodily injury charge is a Class 2 felony, which carries a potential penalty of 20 years to life in prison, with a possible fine of up to $100,000, under the Code of Virginia.