Just before midnight on March 15, a 57-year-old man was driving a Kia Sorrento on a highway in Plains Township. The driver was allegedly drifting in and out of his designated lane. Troopers in the area spotted the vehicle and reportedly clocked its speed at 10 miles per hour over the posted limit. They believed he might be impaired, so they performed a traffic stop.
When they interacted with the driver, the troopers claimed the man’s eyes indicated he was intoxicated. They asked him to step out of the car to take roadside sobriety tests.
According to reports, the man was not cooperative during the testing, and the troopers asserted his performance was further evidence of alleged intoxication. The man was told he was being placed in handcuffs and arrested, but he allegedly struggled and fought when they tried to affix them. One of the troopers forced the man onto the ground for alleged concerns about him struggling near the highway traffic. During the incident, the man reportedly bit one of the troopers.
The troopers brought the suspect to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital to have his blood checked for substances, but the man refused to cooperate.
After his release from the hospital, the suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. He is facing preliminary charges for suspicion of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, driving under the influence, and two traffic citations — speeding and failure to stay in travel lane. He was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.