Reno Man Found Guilty of Battery on a Reno Police Officer

Washoe County District Attorney's Office Announces Conviction of Reno Man on Battery Charge for Spitting on Police Officer

October 7, 2015
Reno, Nevada

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announced today that a Reno man has been found guilty after a two-day trial in District Court on a charge of battery on a police officer.   The charge stemmed from a July, 2015 incident where the man spit in the face of a Reno Police Officer. 

Emil Anthony, 51 (DOB 3/4/64), from Reno, was found guilty yesterday of one count of Battery Upon an Officer, a gross misdemeanor. The case began on July 9, 2015 when the Reno Police Department responded to the Cal Neva on a report of a domestic disturbance. Once on scene, the investigating officers located an intoxicated female and Anthony in separate locations within the casino.  When officers attempted to question Anthony, he became belligerent and began cursing at the officers.  Anthony was subsequently arrested for domestic battery and continued to be uncooperative with the officers when being searched and placed in a patrol car.  When one of the Reno officers attempted to talk to Anthony and calm him down, Anthony spit in the officer’s face.  This resulted in a spit hood being placed on Anthony and the additional charge of battery on an officer.  The domestic battery charge was later dropped when surveillance footage did not support what had initially been reported to police by witnesses.

At trial, Anthony admitted to cursing at the officers, but claimed he had inadvertently spit on one of them.  He also claimed the officer had lied about the spitting being deliberate.   The officer, who spent 20 year serving as a marine and 10 years as a federal agent before become a Reno Police Officer, testified at trial that Anthony’s actions were deliberate. The jury found Anthony guilty yesterday afternoon.  Sentencing in this case will take place on October 14, 2015 and Anthony faces up to 364 days in jail.