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Police: Man Tried To Gouge Out Officer's Eye During Attack

WORCESTER (CBS) – A police officer says a man tried to gouge his eye out during an attack in Worcester Wednesday morning.

The officer was working a construction detail on Country Club Road when the suspect, 30-year-old Jones Appiah of Worcester, ignored cones and drove into the work zone. The officer says he approached Appiah, who drove off quickly on the wrong side of the road.

A few minutes later Appiah returned and entered a nearby supermarket parking lot which was blocked by cones. The officer says Appiah exited his vehicle and refused to stop or show his license and registration. Appiah then began to run from the officer and allegedly assaulted a security guard.

The officer used pepper spray on the suspect twice. "The officer realized that he was about to be assaulted and quickly deployed his pepper spray," police said. "The pepper spray appeared to have little to no effect on Mr. Appiah."

The suspect then allegedly tackled the officer on the ground of the parking lot, punched him and dug his fingernails into his face. "At this time Mr. Appiah took one of his fingers and purposely pressed, with great force, into one of the officers' eye," police said. "The officer believed that Mr. Appiah was actually attempting to gouge out his eye."

The security guard assisted the officer and Appiah was eventually placed under arrest. The officer was treated for eye injuries and facial cuts and scratches.

Appiah will be arraigned Thursday on several charges including assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

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