UTICA, N.Y. -- Utica police suspect drugs may have played a role in an assault on a police officer Thursday morning. It happened around 1:30 a.m. in the area of Kennedy Plaza.

Police say one of their officers witnessed Jeremy Ross, 46, yelling and screaming in the street. The officer attempted to talk to the woman with Ross and that's when police say Ross lunged at the officer and grabbed his face. And when the officer tried to take Ross into custody, they say Ross bit his arm.

Ross had to be tasered twice to get him into custody.

Police say drugs may have played a role, but they don't know for sure.

Ross has been charged with assault, harassment and resisting arrest.