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November 5, 2009

Zal accused in another officer attack

By BOB GIBBINS



A Tahlequah man with a history of assaulting local law enforcement officers faces multiple charges after a scuffle with Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies.

Watie Zal, 47, was arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies Bronson McNiel and Tommy Moore after they responded to a call for help from Charles Harmon and Vicki Cornsilk. McNiel and Moore were both injured while trying to arrest Zal, also known as Watie Buckhorn.

McNiel suffered injuries to his face when Zal struck him with rings on his hands. One of Moore’s arms was put in a brace after the incident.

Zal reportedly became agitated with Harmon and Cornsilk after the pair noticed a dog with a string tied around one of its paws. The paw was swollen below the string, and Zal allegedly admitted tying the string to the dog’s leg.

Zal allegedly confronted Harmon and Cornsilk with a knife and chased them into a bathroom. Reports state Zal jammed the knife in the bathroom door, and it remained there until deputies arrived.

Zal was booked on two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, a count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, cruelty to animals, and making threats to kill McNiel and Moore.

Zal has convictions for assault dating back to 1988. His last two convictions were for assaults on Tahlequah police officers. TPD Detective Capt. Dale Glory was involved in an incident with Zal in 1993 for which Zal served 10 years in prison, and within days of his release from prison in 2002, Zal was in a fight with TPD Officers Chris Boals and Casey Baker in the Sequoyah City Park. He received a five-year sentence on that case, and was released from prison in June 2007.

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