Kiln man charged with assaulting deputies during traffic stop

Hancock County deputies have charged a Kiln man with assault after he objected to a traffic stop.

Sheriff Ricky Adam said 18-year-old Sage Lauga is charged with two counts of simple assault on a law enforcement officer, malicious mischief and resisting arrest. He was take to Hancock County jail with no bond pending an initial hearing.

Adam said deputies stopped a vehicle where Lauga was a passenger for a possible DUI. When deputies approached the vehicle, they smelled what they believed to be marijuana and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle.

That’s when, according to Adam, Lauga “went nuts” and lashed out at deputies.

The driver was not cited in the incident.