FRACKVILLE — A Lansford man was jailed after being charged with assaulting two Coaldale police officers Sunday.
Police said Brett T. Rodriguez, 37, of 510 E. Bertsch St., was charged by Patrolman Thomas Fort with three felony counts each of aggravated assault and aggravated assault on police; six misdemeanor counts of simple assault; one misdemeanor count each of resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; and four summary counts of harassment.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.
The charges against Rodriguez stem from an incident about 12:05 a.m. at West Water Street, Route 209, and Bull Run Street, Fort said.
Fort said he and Patrolman Joseph David conducted a traffic stop of a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz for failure to dim high beams and malfunctioning brake lights.
While speaking to the driver, Fort said, he noticed a passenger, later identified as Rodriguez, reaching into his right pocket and then saw an item fall between the door and the seat.
Fort said he opened the passenger’s side door and a small plastic bag with a white crystal powder inside fall to the ground.
David notified Rodriguez that he was under arrest and placed one handcuff on his right wrist. After placing the handcuff, Fort said, Rodriguez began to pull away and was told by both officers to stop resisting.
Fort said that Rodriguez then became very combative and kicked both him and David several times, tried to punch David and then kicked David, causing him to fall. Fort added that Rodriguez also kicked him multiple times and tried to bite him.
Rodriguez had to be struck several times with a Taser weapon before he was able to be placed in handcuffs, Fort said.
While he was lying on the ground, Rodriguez kicked Fort, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground, Fort said.
At that point, Rodriguez had to be held down for several minutes until he stopped fighting.
The material inside the bag that fell from the vehicle was later tested and gave a positive reading for methamphetamine.
Rodriguez will now have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer in his Tamaqua courtroom.