Man pleads not guilty to injuring officer

A Cumberland man accused of causing an injury to an officer and attempting to harm an EMT worker during efforts to arrest him on a warrant and transport him to jail entered not guilty pleas to charges on Wednesday in Barron County Circuit Court.

Peter R. Cupp, 40, was charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors on April 19. The charges are: resisting an officer causing a soft tissue injury to officer, attempt bodily harm to a worker in a health care facility, threat to a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment, and a jury trial was scheduled for Sept. 19. If convicted on the causing soft tissue injury count he could be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for up to six years.

According to the criminal complaint, while pushing Cupp forward into a squad car, a sergeant said he felt something snap in his right calf, felt immediate pain and was not able to walk properly. He was later diagnosed with a gastrocnemius muscle tear.

At the hospital, Cupp was hostile toward medical staff, was kicking his legs and needed to be restrained. While he was being rolled out of the ambulance bay to a squad car, Cupp started to kick one of the EMTs. The EMT saw the foot coming and got out of the way. He said it barely touched him but did connect.