A Suffolk man who assaulted a police officer outside Wal-Mart Monday night is being held without bond in Western Tidewater Regional Jail.

Marquis T. Jones, 31, of the 200 block of Burnetts Way was arrested around 7:20 p.m., after getting involved in a scuffle with Officer T. Mason in the store’s parking lot in the 1200 block of North Main Street, said Lt. Debbie J. George, spokeswoman for the Suffolk Police Department.

Jones was charged with disorderly conduct, felony assault on a police officer, disarming a police officer, reckless handling of a firearm, and destruction of property.

The officer initially approached Jones, who was wearing headphones while riding a bicycle, because of safety concerns, George said.

Jones responded by becoming loud and disorderly, then slamming his bicycle into the officer before attempting to throw it into an occupied car.

As Mason tried to make an arrest, Jones hit the officer in the face and started fighting with him, George said. During their exchange, Jones managed to remove the officer’s gun and brandish it before finally tossing it into the parking lot.

The weapon was recovered by a citizen and returned to police, George said.

Mason received minor abrasions and was treated at the scene, she said.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com