Man charged with grabbing officer’s gun, biting him

A Palmerton man faces charges of aggravated assault and disarming a law enforcement officer after scuffling with a borough cop during an arrest attempt Wednesday.

Police responded to an Avenue B residence at 6:19 p.m., when a female victim accused Jonathan Scott Heydt, 38, of striking her in the face and assaulting her the day before.

During the 911 call, dispatchers said they heard the woman yelling “please stop” and crying, along with the sound of her being hit while she was on the phone.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Palmerton officer Shawn Leadbetter, he and officer Trevor Flexer approached Heydt on the porch of the residence, but Heydt resisted arrest and a physical struggle ensued.

Leadbetter and Heydt were thrown over the side of the porch and onto the pavement. Leadbetter said Heydt struck him twice in the face, causing an abrasion and laceration. Heydt also bit the officer’s right arm and grabbed his gun while it was in the holster.

Flexer used multiple Taser deployments to subdue Heydt, who was taken into custody after the 4-minute altercation.

Leadbetter and Heydt both required medical treatment at St. Luke’s Lehighton campus following the struggle.

Heydt faces three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of attempted simple assault, three counts of harassment and one counts each of false imprisonment and disarming a law enforcement officer.

Bail was set at $50,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday in front of Magisterial District Judge William Kissner.