East Lansing Police Department on Aug. 29, 2015. Courtney Kendler/The State News
At approximately 1:50 a.m. on Feb. 4, East Lansing Police Department Officer Travis Bove was driving northbound on Abbot Road near Rick's and as he drove by he observed a possible fight. He was in full uniform, pulled over in a fully marked patrol car and turned on the car lights.
"(The lights) did not stop the shoving and the bouncer at the door of Rick's started to wave at me to come and help them with the situation," Bove's police report said.
According to Bove's report, he turned on his body camera and told dispatch that there was "a possible fight at Rick's." Bove then approached the entrance and saw that an "intoxicated Asian male was causing most of the issue." The male, identified as Qihua Yu, was then shoved toward the street and away from Rick's.
"Once that happened, I grabbed onto him to make sure there was no assault, as I observed him being the primary aggressor as I made my original approach," Bove's report said.
Yu then "aggressively attempted to pull away" from Bove and brought "his right arm behind him in a manner as to throw a punch," according to the report.
Bove brought his left arm up to block a punch if necessary and told Yu to stop multiple times as he attempted to pull away, according to the report.
"(Yu) was still tensing up and not complying with my commands," Bove's report said. "I then attempted to walk him to my patrol car, to get him away from the crowd gathering outside of the bar and help use the car to secure (Yu), who was now disorderly."
After reaching the car, Yu again "tensed up his left arm." Bove told Yu twice to get on the ground and both times Yu "asked why and did not comply," according to the report.
"I then performed a straight arm bar takedown on the suspect," Bove's report said. "Due to (Yu's) level of intoxication he was unable to properly brace himself with his free hand and he (sic) face did strike the pavement."
Yu did not sustain any major injuries, just "mild scratches to his forehead and cheek area." Yu's glasses did break when his face struck the pavement, according to Bove's report.
While on the ground, Yu "still attempted to resist and pull away and tense up." Bove held Yu in place until another office arrived on scene, according to the report.
Yu was then arrested and a $200 bond was set, according to the report.
According to 54B District Court records, Yu posted bond.
On Feb. 13 Yu pled not guilty to a disorderly obstruction at arraignment and pretrial was scheduled, according to court records.
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