What should have been a peaceful family gathering Sunday turned into a melee ending with officers with the Covington Police Department arresting a man, his brother-in-law, his wife and her mother. James Cruikshank was charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct and battery; his brother-in-law, Matthew Roberts, was charged wtih obstruction and disorderly conduct; his wife, Gigi Cruikshank, was charged with obstruction and disorderly conduct; and her mother, Peggy Capes, was charged with public drunkenness.

Around midnight on Dec. 28, officers were called to a home on Crestview Drive in response to a neighbor's complaint of a family fight. When officers arrived, beer cans were found strewn around the front yard, but no one was outside.

Minutes later, Roberts, who appeared to be intoxicated, emerged from the garage and informed officers that he, James Cruikshank and Gigi Cruikshank had a been involved in an altercation, but that everything was fine. Inside the home, Gigi Cruikshank was questioned by officers and confirmed Roberts' story.

When Gigi Cruikshank was asked if there was anyone else inside the home, Roberts became irate-cursing and refusing to comply with officers' orders. When officers tried to handcuff Roberts, he became combative and had to be escorted outside the residence by officers, who placed him in a police vehicle.

Gigi Cruikshank was questioned by officers about her husband's whereabouts, but refused to answer officers, who searched the residence and found James Cruikshank in a room at the rear of the home.

James Cruikshank got into a verbal and physical altercation with officers and had to be escorted outside the home, where he became more aggressive. Officers used physical force and Tasers to subdue James Cruikshank, who was arrested and placed in the police vehicle. When EMS workers arrived at the home, he was allowed out of the police car to receive medical attention. Once he was checked by EMS workers, he refused to get back in the car, again becoming combative. Officers again used the Taser to subdue him. James Cruikshank was transported to the Newton County Detention Center and charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct and battery.

While police were attempting to handcuff James Cruikshank, Gigi Cruikshank ran outside the residence and grabbed officers, trying to prevent them from arresting her husband. Gigi Cruikshank was arrested and charged with obstruction and disorderly conduct.

When Peggy Capes, Gigi Cruikshank's mother, arrived at the home by car, she also got into an altercation with officers and refused to comply with their orders. Officers reported smelling alcohol on Capes and charged her with public drunkenness.

Warrants are being sought in all the cases as a result of the incident.