Michael McKiernan, 28, of Lansdale.
A Lansdale man is facing aggravated assault charges after he allegedly fought with multiple police officers who were trying to take him into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant from Atlantic City, NJ.
Michael McKiernan, 28, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated assault – attempt to cause serious bodily injury, along with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and simple assault, in connection with the incident.
Lansdale Borough Police said that they were aware that McKiernan was wanted on a failure to appear warrant from the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department (NJ), and while patrolling in the area of West Ninth and Walnut streets at 1:04 a.m. on Feb. 25, they saw McKiernan drive by and park near his mother’s house. After confirming the warrant was active, police knocked at the door and spoke with McKiernan’s mother, who confirmed that he was there in the basement, according to the criminal complaint.
Two officers entered the basement and encountered McKiernan sleeping on a couch, the report states. McKiernan refused to stand up and claimed that he had taken care of the warrant, but when police said the warrant was still active, McKiernan allegedly said “Well, you’re going to have to fight me then,” according to the complaint.
As police attempted to place McKiernan in custody, he began to resist arrest and screamed profanities, the report states. McKiernan refused orders to put his hands behind his back and began to complain of chest pain, stating that he needed an ambulance, police said. As a third officer arrived to provide assistance, McKiernan attempted to punch one of the officers, continued to resist and then kicked out the legs of one of the officers attempting to place him into custody, according to the report.
The complaint states that due to McKiernan’s extremely violent behavior and aggression, police were left with no choice but to deploy a Taser, which struck McKiernan in the back. He was then placed into custody, but continued to yell profanities and spit towards one of the officers as he was being escorted out of the home, according to the complaint.
Once McKiernan was placed in the rear of the patrol car, he banged his head on the partition, forcing police to take him to Lansdale Hospital for a medical evaluation, the report states.
McKiernan was arraigned later that morning by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who set bail at $25,000 cash. McKiernan was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Levine on March 10 at 10:45 a.m.
Though the report does not mention the details surrounding the New Jersey warrant, it does indicate that the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department has requested extradition, which would occur following the disposition of the current charges in Pennsylvania.
(Editor’s note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause, and reflects the point of view of the police. 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:
Woman Stole From Grocery Store, Struck Parked Vehicle While Fleeing: Police
Suspect Tased During Incident Involving Knife In Upper Gwynedd, Police Say
Montgomery Township Man Arrested On Felony Weapons, Drug Charges
Man Accused Of Stealing $3,000 In Tools From Employer In Lansdale
Woman Accused Of Stealing $1,100 In Cold Sore, Allergy Medications From Wegmans
