After engaging in an altercation with multiple police officers, a homeless man pleaded not guilty at his arraignment for assaulting peace officers.

Michael Purdue, whose address is listed as homeless in court records, appeared in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday morning for arraignment.

The 55 year-old man became the recipient of five felony charges resulting from an incident that occured on Eppley Avenue at the beginning of the year.

On Jan. 2, Purdue was escorted to a police cruiser in handcuffs with bandages wrapped around his head after officers with the Zanesville Police Department were called to 1214 Eppley Ave. by a homeowner who believed a former tenant was inside the home.

The night of the incident, Zanesville Public Safety Director Keane Toney said Purdue had previously been ordered to vacate the property in October when the home was condemned.

When the homeowner checked on the property, the evening of Jan. 2, she noticed the door had been opened and believed Purdue was inside, prompting her to call the police.

When police arrived to the house, Perdue refused to exit the home and began taunting officers from inside, Lieutenant Derek Shilling said the night of the incident.

After sending a K-9 officer into the home, Perdue became more aggressive with law enforcement.

One officer was struck in the head, another sustained a hand injury and one officer was bitten by Perdue, among other bumps and abrasions caused by Perdue.

Two officers went to the hospital and others were treated on scene. Perdue also received medical attention on scene.

Following his arrival at the city jail, Perdue was later taken to the hospital that evening when his head began bleeding. He was returned to the City jail prior to his first arraignment in Zanesville Municipal Court.

According to Captain Scott Comstock, one officer that was struck in the head who sustained other abrasions returned to duty after missing one day of work. The other officer that sustained a hand injury did break his hand, and Comstock said that officer will be off work for a length of time.

The remaining officers all returned to duty as scheduled.

Monday morning, Purdue pleaded not guilty at his arraignment to four fourth-degree felony counts of assault on a peace officer and one fifth-degree felony count of breaking and entering.

He remains in the Muskingum County Jail on a $75,000 bond.