Cody Christopher, 21, of Towamencin.
A Towamencin man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted a police officer who was taking him into custody.
Cody Christopher, 21, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault and resisting arrest, in connection with the incident that occurred on April 22.
According to the criminal complaint, police ran a check for warrants on Christopher as he sat in a parking lot awaiting a ride, following a non-violent domestic incident at 8:59 p.m. The search results showed what appeared to be an active warrant for Christopher, so police approached him and explained that he would be detained while they verified that the warrant was valid, the report states.
The complaint states that Christopher became agitated and disputed that the warrant was for him, and police noticed a change in his demeanor that indicated he was preparing to fight. In an effort to control the situation, police grabbed his left hand and placed a handcuff on his left wrist, but when they placed Christopher’s arm behind his back, he allegedly spun away, shoved the officer in the chest and “violently pulled the handcuffs” from his grasp, the report states.
As a result, the officer sustained injuries to two fingers in his left hand, the report states.
Christopher then ran across the 1100-block of Welsh Road, with police continuing to tell him to stop and threatening to use their Tasers, according to the report. As Christopher circled the property, he ran into a mesh wire fence which caused him to fall to the ground, and when he attempted to get up, the injured officer deployed his Taser, which had no effect, the report states. As the officer attempted to establish a third point of contact with the Taser, Christopher allegedly kicked him in the inner-right thigh, the report states. The officer then deployed pepper spray, which also had no effect, according to the report.
With Christopher continuing to resist arrest, the injured officer then deployed his baton, striking Christopher in the legs two to three times, the report states. Christopher then began to lessen his resistance, and police were able to take him into custody.
Christopher was arraigned on April 23 by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who set bail at $10,000 cash. He was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on May 7 at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Levine.
According to Towamencin Township Police Chief Tim Dickinson, the injured officer has been unable to return to work at this time.
(Editor's note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)
See also:
Violent Home Invasion Leaves One Injured In Hilltown
Long Island Man Arrested For Having Sex with Underage Girl in Hilltown
Hatfield Man Faces Felony Workers’ Comp Fraud Charges
North Wales Woman Arrested On Felony Forgery, Theft Charges
Three Men Charged In Assault Of Elderly Man In Lansdale (UPDATED)
