Officers Impressively Use Sign Language to Arrest Deaf Havasu Resident

Lake Havasu City Police officers responded to a call last month regarding a disturbance at a McCulloch Boulevard grocery store. Reports indicated that an intoxicated man was refusing to leave the premises.

On July 27, officers arrived to find 58-year-old Troy L. Vanschoiack riding an electric scooter while holding a half-bottle of malt liquor. Despite allegedly being unable to hear the officers’ directives to vacate the store, Vanschoiack responded by directing a middle finger towards the officers, marking the beginning of a tense encounter.

The situation escalated when Vanschoiack verbally expressed his lack of interest in engaging with the police, even as they requested his identification. He then stood up from his electric cart and attempted to leave the store, but lost his balance and fell outside the location.

An officer assisted Vanschoiack back to his feet, but Vanschoiack continued to resist by attempting to walk away without identifying himself. The officer resorted to using American Sign Language to inform Vanschoiack that he was under arrest. Vanschoiack was then handcuffed and detained.

During a search, police found a piece of paper in Vanschoiack’s pocket with his name written on it. He was transported to the Lake Havasu City Police Department and booked on misdemeanor charges of public liquor consumption and refusing to identify himself to an officer.

Following an additional search at the jail, Vanschoiack was taken to Havasu Regional Medical Center for evaluation due to apparent skin injuries. Vanschoiack required extensive medical care and was released at the scene, pending a court appearance.

As of Thursday, Arizona Supreme Court records showed no criminal complaint filed in relation to Vanschoiack’s arrest.