Massachusetts man arrested after allegedly spitting on officer, arrested again 6 hours later after reportedly threatening to shoot officers

Springfield, Mass. — Around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday April 22nd, officers arrested 25-year-old Azonti Sanders on the 600 block of Page Boulevard. Sanders was detained for drinking in public and causing a disturbance. He then turned and struck an officer’s hand and continued to cause a disturbance which led to his arrest. When he was waiting to be processed at Springfield Police Headquarters he spit in the face of an officer.

Around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, a Springfield District Court Clerk released Sanders on his own recognizance.

At approximately 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to the 0-100 block of Waltham Street for a gun call. Officers encountered Sanders who began threatening responding officers. Sanders is then alleged to have pulled a firearm from his pocket and threatened to shoot the officers. Sanders was then able to gain access into a building and a short time later officers located Sanders in front of an apartment, and he was placed under arrest again.

Officers then received permission to search his apartment and located a black BB handgun inside.

25-year-old Azonti Sanders of Springfield is charged with Threat to Commit a Crime, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Two Counts), Disorderly Conduct, Assault & Battery on a Police Officer (Two Counts, and Open Container Ordinance Violation.

At arraignment Sanders pled not guilty and was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.