Officer subdues half-naked man with Taser

A 34-year-old man was charged Tuesday with battery after he attacked an officer who tried to detain him as he ran around in his underwear in South Glendale and tried to grab a group of teens, police said.

Matthew Smail faces one count each of battery and resisting an officer for the Friday incident, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Witnesses reported seeing Smail at about 8 a.m. wearing only his underwear while running around aimlessly on the 800 block of South Glendale Avenue yelling at people in the area, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Smail tried to grab five Roosevelt Middle School students who were headed to campus that morning, but a Good Samaritan stepped in, fearing he would harm them, Lorenz said.

Soon after that, a Glendale police officer arrived and tried talking to Smail, but he told the officer that she was pretty and tried to hug her, Lorenz said.

Smail allegedly told the officer that he loved her and then lunged at her. When Smail then tried to grab her Taser from her hand, the officer used the Taser on Smail.

He spit at and kicked the officer, so she used the device again, Lorenz said.

Smail was taken to Glendale Memorial Hospital for a 24-hour psychiatric hold, and was later transported to a Los Angeles County jail, Lorenz said.

Smail told police he takes Adderall, which is used to manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA