Man arrested after kicking officer while handcuffed on Interstate 581, police say

Incident happened Wednesday afternoon

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Roanoke County police arrested a man they say kicked a police officer while being handcuffed on Interstate 581 Wednesday afternoon.

At about 1 p.m., a Roanoke County police officer was conducting a routine traffic stop on southbound I‐581 near Exit 3C on a driver who was speeding.

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During the stop, another vehicle pulled up behind the officer and the driver exited the car and began approaching the officer, police said 

The officer questioned what the man was doing, but he didn't respond, according to the Roanoke County Police Department.

The man took a combative stance and the officer pulled out his Taser and commanded the man to get on the ground, which he did.

After the officer handcuffed the man, he began kicking the officer in the leg, police said. 

Other officers arrived and the man was taken to the Roanoke City Jail.

Matthew Evan Brunstetter, 24, is charged with felony assault and battery on a police officer.

Neither person was injured during the altercation.

Police believe this was a random assault and there is no connection between the traffic stop
and Brunstetter’s actions.