Man tased, arrested while carrying gun at York apartments

A York, S.C., man who reportedly refused to follow police commands and was carrying a handgun in his car was arrested after being hit by a taser.

York police were dispatched to the Cedar Terrace Apartments on East Liberty Street after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance on the evening of Feb. 21. Police stopped a car matching the description of one involved in the incident. Joshua Alan Nelms, 32, was behind the wheel.

Under questioning, Nelms reportedly became upset, "balling his fist and hitting the steering wheel," according to the police report. When asked to step out of the vehicle, Nelms reportedly asked "what for?" The officer opened the door and physically stood Nelms up to get him out of the car.

Once out of the vehicle, Nelms reportedly said he "was not going to jail" and refused to follow directions. He did not answer when asked if he had any weapons and reportedly cursed at the officer when the officer drew his taser. A second officer spotted a handgun on the floorboards of the car, which Nelms was still standing beside, holding on to the roof luggage rack.

After a standoff in which Nelms was warned he would be tased if he did not cooperate and move away from the car, he was shot in the side by the taser. Nelms reportedly continued to struggle with police after he went to the ground. He was transported to the detention center on charges of public disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and unlawful carrying of a pistol.

This story was originally published March 1, 2015 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Man tased, arrested while carrying gun at York apartments."