Woman Elbows Officer in the Head After Being Disorderly at the Thomas Meagher Bar

On Friday, Missoula Police Department officers were dispatched to the Thomas Meagher Bar for a female who was causing disturbances inside and around the bar. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“Yana Schlafke is being held at the Missoula County Detention Center on charges related to assault on a peace office, disorderly conduct, obstructing a peace officer, and resisting arrest,” Arnold said. “Officers responded to the Thomas Meagher Bar for a disorderly female on June 25^th. The initial 911 caller said the female was being disorderly and acting strangely. When officers on scene had a chance to speak with the caller, she described concerning behaviors of Yana making patrons uncomfortable and was concerned for her intoxication level.”

Court documents indicate the caller also reported that the female was possibly “tweaking” as she had been causing odd disturbances within the bar and was now outside rolling on customers’ cars parked along the street.

“When officers attempted contact with Yana, she started to walk away and stated a false name,” Arnold said. “An officer told Yana to stop walking. Yana made physical contact with the officer’s head. Yana became more physically resistant toward officers during the incident. No other injuries were reported and the officer did not require medical attention on scene.”

While the officer attempted to stop Yana from fleeing, Yana swung her elbow back and struck the officer in the head creating a noticeable noise for other officers to hear, and caused noticeable pain to the officer. Yana continued to resist officer’s instruction. At one point, the officers determined that this situation required a helmet and hobbles to restrain Yana. One officer placed a blue helmet on Yana and another placed hobbles on her to prevent her from kicking other officers.

One officer carried Yana to a patrol car where she was ultimately detained. The entire time the officer was carrying Yana, she continued to kick and thrash her body making it difficult to get her into a patrol car. On her way to the jail, Yana was yelling and kicking around in the rear of the patrol car.

Once the officers arrived to the jail, staff and detention officers were placed on notice of Yana’s behavior and likelihood of resistance. As expected, Yana was extremely physical with jail staff while being taken into custody, where she was observed kicking multiple officers in their attempts to restrain her. Yana was eventually placed into a restraint chair for booking.

Yana was charged with felony assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and obstructing a peace officer.