LIBERTY — A Youngstown man who fled a restaurant after being accused of assaulting its manager Saturday afternoon made his appearance in Girard Municipal Court Monday.

Montrayell Hathman, 24, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault on a police officer, obstructing official business and resisting arrest.

According to a Liberty police report, several officers were dispatched to the Belmont Avenue Denny’s in response to a call from its manager, who said a man — later identified as Hathman — assaulted him. Dispatchers told officers Hathman fled the restaurant to Wendy’s across the road.

Officers scoured the area for Hathman, who fled northbound as soon as officers noticed him at Wendy’s. The report states Hathman ignored commands to stop and proceeded to enter a Senor Jalapeno, another nearby restaurant, climbing and jumping over several unoccupied booths.

The reporting officer managed to reach Hathman and ordered him to get on the ground, grabbing at Hathman’s shirt and wrist to bring him into custody.

The report states he responded by grabbing both of the officer’s wrists tightly and digging his fingernails into them — causing abrasions, small cuts and drawing blood — then striking the officer twice on the left side of his face with an open-hand strike, then fist. Hathman then struck the officer in the abdomen.

The officer was eventually able to fight back, subduing Hathman with open-handed strikes. He eventually verbally complied with the officer’s orders, but continued to resist physically. A “good Samaritan” eventually intervened and helped the officer by restraining Hathman’s legs.

The reporting officer ordered Hathman to give him his hand or else he would be hit with a stun weapon. He refused orders, and a dry stun was used on his back.

The report states officers were forced to deploy “several more” dry stuns until the reporting officer was able to handcuff him.

Hathman was eventually booked into Trumbull County jail on fourth-degree assault on a police officer, fifth-degree obstructing official business and first-degree resisting arrest, which was elevated to a second-degree charge because he risked physical harm to a person, the report states.

Officers spoke with the Denny’s manager, who explained that Hathman came into the restaurant asking for free food, and when he was denied, he followed an employee into a restricted area. When the manager attempted to escort him out, Hathman jumped on his back, the report states.

The manager did not pursue any charges, but provided a written statement.