Man charged with assaulting police officer on New Year’s Day

A Northampton man has been charged with assaulting a Lehighton police officer on New Year’s Day.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by patrolman Bruce Broyles of the Lehighton Borough Police Department:

At 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Broyles saw a white Pontiac sedan with a dark window tint that he could not see through turn onto East Penn Street from Route 443.

A traffic stop was initiated on East Penn Street in the parking lot of the borough garage. Broyles asked the driver, Joseph James Bennett, 29, for required documentation.

Bennett said he didn’t have any documents relating to him or the vehicle, and said he was going to the hospital to get stitches removed.

Broyles asked Bennett to provide his name, but he became argumentative, though he eventually provided his name and date of birth.

Broyles asked Bennett to turn off his vehicle, and he again argued, but eventually turned the car off.

Bennett rummaged through his center console, and eventually produced a Pennsylvania learner’s permit that stated he was not permitted to operate a motor vehicle without being accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21 or older.

Bennett acknowledged he was aware he was not supposed to be driving, and was asked to get out of his car.

Broyles asked officer Joel Gulla to pat Bennett down for safety purposes, but Bennett immediately reached to his waist.

Gulla ordered Bennett to keep his hands visible and asked if he had any weapons.

Bennett said he had a knife, and again reached toward his waist but police told him not to reach for anything.

Gulla began to reach for the pocket Bennett said the knife was in, but Bennett backed away and said he could not be searched, though Gulla said he was able to perform a pat-down for weapons.

Broyles opted to detain him until the investigation had concluded. He asked Bennett to turn away from him and place his hands behind his back.

Bennett pulled his arms away and locked his arms to prevent Broyles from placing his hands behind his back.

Throughout the struggle, Bennett elbowed Gulla in the face. Gulla performed a counterstrike to Bennett’s head.

Bennett continued to pull away from police while they attempted to place him in handcuffs.

Broyles advised Bennett he was now under arrest, but he continued to fight while police tried to place him in handcuffs.

Broyles used his elbow and struck Bennett’s back, and handcuffs were eventually able to be applied.

Bennett was transported to St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus.

While inside the emergency room, Bennett screamed vulgarities and obscenities.

Bennett faces charges of aggravated assault; resisting arrest; disorderly conduct; learner’s permit violation; and unlawful activities.

He is currently free in lieu of $150,000 unsecured bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Jan. 15 before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.