Inmate Assaults, Bites Guard At GT County Jail

A Grand Traverse County jail inmate bit a guard twice during a struggle.

Traverse City police sent a report to prosecutors requesting felony assault charges against Christopher Reyes Harper, 21, after an incident at the jail Sunday morning.

A corrections officer entered Harper’s cell at 4am Sunday and woke him, causing Harper to punch the guard, leading to a struggle during which Harper and the guarded went to the ground and struggled on the floor of the cell, TCPD Chief Jeff O’Brien says. Harper allegedly bit the guard twice on his left arm.

Harper has been wanted on a warrant for driving with a suspended license since December, according to 86th District Court records. Harper was convicted last year of operating under the age of 21 with a blood alcohol content of between .02 and .07 percent.