Man arrested after altercation at Transit Center in Lacey, allegedly bites officer during transport 

A man was taken into custody on Friday, June 6, following a reported altercation between two individuals at the Intercity Transit Center on Golf Club Place SE in Lacey. 

Lacey Police Department officers responded to a call just after 10:25 p.m. on June 6 about two men fighting, with one reportedly wielding a liquor bottle as a weapon.  

By the time responding officers arrived, the individuals had separated. One of the men, identified in a police report as Michael Banks, was known to officers from an earlier encounter that day. 

Police said Banks became agitated at the scene and ignored commands to de-escalate. Officers drew a taser for precaution, but Banks complied and was detained without further incident. 

Although the other individual involved in the altercation declined to press charges, Banks was arrested for disorderly conduct due to his behavior. 

While being transported to Nisqually Tribal Jail, Banks complained of breathing issues. Emergency responders evaluated him and recommended a hospital visit due to his erratic behavior.  

Officers attempted to transfer him to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, but Banks reportedly became uncooperative and resisted getting back into a patrol car.  

“Michael was asked by officers multiple times to get back inside the patrol car. Michael refused and became passively resistant, which forced officers to physically place him inside of the vehicle, during which he bit Officer Gutierrez on his left wrist,” an LPD responding officer reported.

Banks was medically cleared at the hospital, and then booked into Thurston County Corrections Facility on suspicion of third-degree assault.