Judge: Cincinnati police officer 'tased' man 3 to 7 times, but was still badly beaten

A man who attacked a Cincinnati police officer two years ago, fracturing bones in the officer's face and causing a traumatic brain injury, faces 13½ years in prison after a judge found him guilty of charges including felonious assault.

Officer Doug Utecht used his Taser three to seven times on Durrell Nichols during the June 6, 2019 incident. But Nichols, who court documents say weighed about 300 pounds, was still able to punch Utecht multiple times in the head and face.

Nichols also took the Taser from Utecht's hands, documents say.

Nichols, 27, opted for a bench trial last month in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, which meant Judge Alison Hatheway, not a jury, determined the outcome.

On Thursday, Hatheway announced her decision, finding Nichols guilty of two assault charges and obstructing police. He will be sentenced on Aug. 2. Hatheway did find that Nichols was not guilty of aggravated robbery, a charge related to taking Utecht's Taser.

The evening of June 6, 2019, Utecht and another officer responded to the Gamble-Nippert YMCA in Westwood after staff called police saying Nichols refused to leave. 

A lawsuit filed by Utecht said Nichols was experiencing a psychotic episode. It also said he was threatening people.

Initially, Nichols complied and began to leave the YMCA's weight room, Hatheway said. But then he suddenly turned around. Utecht grabbed Nichols' shirt, she said, and Nichols "spun around and took a fighting stance."

Utecht fired his Taser between three and seven times, Hatheway said. But Nichols grabbed it out of the officer's hands and punched him several times in the face and head.

Utecht's eye socket was fractured, Hatheway said. She said Utecht continues to see a doctor for the traumatic brain injury he suffered.

Nichols was ultimately subdued and arrested. Two months later, he was found incompetent to stand trial. In January 2020, he was deemed competent after undergoing treatment at Summit Behavioral Healthcare. Court documents say he understood the nature of the proceedings and could assist in his own defense.