On Saturday afternoon, a Chico Police officer responded to a call from the Tower Mart located at 110 E. Park Avenue about a transient man urinating on the wall outside of the shop.

The officer arrived to see 42-year-old transient Marcus Atunez laying on the grass with open containers of alcohol, according to a news release.

It was reported that Atunez was immediately uncooperative with the officer and quickly confronted the officer as well. Atunez attacked the officer by throwing punches, biting another officer that came to assist on the leg, after being put down to the ground and failed to respond to multiple orders to stop.

Atunez was arrested for the following charges:

• Two counts of 69(a) PC; Resisting arrest by violence (felony)
• Two counts of 243(b) PC; Battery on a peace officer
• One count of 594(b) PC; Vandalism

One officer had a minor injury but did not require immediate medical attention. Atunez also had minor injuries and was booked at the Butte County Jail after a medical clearance at Enloe Medical Center.

The Chico Police Department also took time to thank two citizens who assisted the officer during the incident. Although Atunez was already in custody by the time they arrived the assistance of the citizens “could have been critical to the safety of the officer if the fight had been prolonged,” according to the release.

Angelina Mendez can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @theorion_angie.