SLATINGTON - An Ashland man was committed to Lehigh County Prison charged with assaulting a police officer on New Year's Eve.
Slatington police Patrolman Matthew Houser charged Bruce Hawk, 30, of 141 Sand Quarry Road, with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.
Hawk was arraigned and committed to prison unable to post $50,000 bail, according to the office of Magisterial District Judge Rod Beck, Slatington.
Houser said the incident began when he was patrolling on South Second Street about 8:40 p.m. and heard a man, later identified as Hawk, yelling profanities at juveniles in the area.
Hawk then ran from the area despite being ordered to stop and continued through a yard at 49 North St., Houser said.
Houser said he continued through the yard and onto North Street, where he found Hawk hiding under a parked Ford Explorer, where he again refused obey commands and come out.
Borough police Patrolman Clifford Ponas arrived to assist and when Hawk came out from under the SUV, he began to walk away again, Houser said.
Houser said that when Hawk was told he was being placed under arrest, the man resisted by not producing his hands to be handcuffed.
The officer told Hawk he would use his Taser if he continued to resist and, after repeated attempts to take Hawk into custody, Houser said he fired his Taser but it had no affect on Hawk, who then tried to punch the officer.
Houser said he and Ponas took Hawk to the ground, at which time Hawk got on top of Ponas and punched him in the face.
Hawk then tried to choke Ponas by placing his hands on his throat before finally being taken into custody, Houser said.
Walnutport police assisted at the scene.