Biting suspect ordered to stand trial

SANDPOINT — A Priest River man accused of biting and attempting to head butt Bonner County sheriff’s deputies is being ordered to stand trial.

Minutes from Matthew Steven Nuss’ preliminary hearing on Aug. 21 have not caught up to the online court file, although photographs of the deputies’ injuries have.

One image shows a deep, jagged bite wound to Deputy Gary Madden’s left bicep. Another showed deep puncture wounds on the fingers of Deputy Alex Hughes.

The deputies were called to the intersection of Spirit Lake Cutoff and Wild Meadows roads to conduct a welfare check on July 22. Passersby reported that Nuss was waving his arms and laying beside the road. He was later reported to be unresponsive, according to court documents.

Nuss was suspected of being under the influence of an unknown intoxicant because he spoke in gibberish and appeared to be unsure of his whereabouts. Emergency medical technicians attempted to perform evaluations, but Nuss attempted to run off and a struggle with the deputies ensued.

Nuss allegedly tried to strike Hughes with his head and clamped his teeth on Madden’s arm. Nuss allegedly bit Hughes’ finger while being escorted to a patrol vehicle and refused to let go. Spirit Lake EMTs applied pain compliance techniques — one of which reportedly involved putting a finger in Nuss’ eye — to get him to release the bite.

Nuss is charged with two counts of battery on a law officer, a felony offense.

Nuss is scheduled to be arraigned in 1st District Court on Sept. 16.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.