A Ringgold man was arrested on numerous charges in Fort Oglethorpe after he allegedly damaged another man’s vehicle following an argument over a parking issue.

According to the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department:

Matthew Steven Wright, 34, of Pine Grove Access Road in Ringgold was arrested on Monday, March 11, on charges of second-degree criminal damage to property, simple battery on a police officer, public drunk, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of officers. His bond was set at $9,000.

Officers were dispatched the Cloud Springs Lodge at 584 Pine Grove Access Road just before 7 p.m. in regards to a call of terroristic threats, and arrived to find a resident of the complex complaining that another man (Wright) was threatening to damage his vehicle after complaining to management that he had continuously been taking up two spaces every time he parked, reports show.

The man also claimed that Wright had been caught on camera slashing the tires of the lodge’s manager’s vehicle, but that the police were never notified because Wright paid for the damages.

Officers wrote a report on the threat, and left the scene, but returned approximately an hour and a half later following a second call that Wright had actually damaged the man’s van.

“When I arrived back at the scene, I was shown where someone had keyed the driver and passenger side of the van from the back to the front,” officer Matthew Ray said. “Upon closer inspection, it was determined that the damage to the vehicle was fresh. Officer Greg Cross and I then spoke to the manager who located video from the cameras in the parking lot. We were able to see a male subject matching Wright’s description walking away from the van in the parking lot.”

Officers then repeatedly attempted to talk with Wright, who refused to answer the door, reports show.

“I knocked several times but Wright refused to come to the door,” Ray said. “I could see him sitting in his chair watching television, talking on the phone, and drinking a beer. After several minutes, Wright got up and walked to the bathroom and came back to his chair with a bottle of prescription medication. I observed Wright pour an unknown amount of prescription pills into his hand and take them with the beer.”

Eventually, Wright answered the door and denied knowing anything about the damage done to the van.

Wright claimed that he was just taking pictures with his phone of the van being double-parked, reports show.

Officers left the room to further investigate the incident, and told Wright to stay in his room due to his level of intoxication.

“As we began to leave, Wright opened his door and began to yell,” Ray said. “As we neared the parking lot, Wright again opened his door, yelled something unintelligible, and then shot officer Cross and I his middle bird finger.”

While speaking with the van owner, Wright continued to yell from his apartment, reports show.

“While I spoke with the owner, I looked outside to see officer Cross attempting to arrest Wright for disorderly conduct, and Wright attempting to slam the door in officer Cross’ face,” Ray said. “I then ran across the commons area to assist him.”

Although he continued to resist arrest, officers were able to corral Wright into the patrol car for detention.

While in the car, Wright began to repeatedly hit his head against that glass, reports show.

“On the way to the detention center, Wright made several incoherent comments while under the influence of a combination of prescription drugs and alcohol,” Ray said.