Violent Man Clubs Capitola Officer with Tree Branch

It took multiple officers and a series of violent altercations, but Matthew Gilligan, 45, was arrested around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Gilligan was contacted by Capitola officers on Wharf Road after matching the description of a man involved in an earlier incident in Aptos. He fled the area and was later found by officers and Sheriff's deputies in the Soquel Knolls condominium complex, where he still resisted arrest.

According to an official statement from the Capitola Police Department, Gilligan then struck an officer with a metal rod. An officer deployed his Taser on Gilligan, which police said "had minimal effect." Gilligan took off again, hit an officer in the side of the head with a tree branch and was Tasered a second time.

Officers began cuffing Gilligan, but he once again broke free and entered an empty condominium through a sliding glass door, where he grabbed a ladder and began swinging it at officers. He was Tasered a third time, which according to police was finally enough to get him handcuffed and shackled.

Gilligan was taken to Dominican hospital where he was treated for his injuries, and was then transported to Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of felony resisting arrest, vandalism, trespassing and assault with a deadly weapon.

The officer hit with the branch was also treated and released.

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