Crime & Safety
Man Facing Drugs, Assault Charges After Fracas At Hotel
Michael Tenkku was arraigned Tuesday morning in Mentor Municipal Court
A Mentor man faces drugs and an assault charge after a fracas early Saturday morning at hotel.
An officer was already around the hotel at about 3:30 a.m. when he heard a woman shouting for help, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said. The sound came from Room 120.
After hearing the shouts, two men and a woman rushed into the room, Zbiegien said.
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The officer called for backup and then police entered the room. When they did, they found a man wrestling 37-year-old Michael Tenkku.
Witnesses told police that Tenkku had punched the man's girlfriend in the head, Zbiegien said. The victim, a 32-year-old woman from Perry, had injuries on the left side of her face.
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Police tried to arrest Tenkku but he wouldn't calm down until officers threatened to use a Taser on him, Zbiegien said. However, after an officer pulled out his Taser, Tenkku let himself be handcuffed and arrested.
At the police station, officers searched Tenkku and found a plastic bag with cocaine in it, as well as a straw, Zbiegien said.
Consequently, Tenkku was charged with having cocaine, assault, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia and drug abuse.
also searched the hotel room and found two more used straws in a dresser, Zbiegien said.
Tenkku was arraigned Tuesday morning in .
Judge John Trebets set his bond at $11,000, which was not posted.
Tenkku's next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9.
The following arrest information was supplied by the Mentor Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this story, email jason.lea@patch.com.
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