A Hatfield Township man has been accused of assaulting a Lansdale Police officer after being asked to leave Lansdale Tavern for being too intoxicated.
Stephen E. Fox, 51, of the 200 block Oak Park Road, was charged July 26 with felony aggravated assault on an officer and public drunkenness, according to charging documents.
On July 25 at 11:33 p.m., police responded to a reported verbal disturbance at Lansdale Tavern, 839 W. Main St., where a man, identified as Fox, was intoxicated and refusing to leave the tavern, police said.
Upon arrival, police found Fox on the sidewalk in front of 837 W. Main St. While speaking with Fox, police detected a strong odor of alcohol on him, and he was speaking incoherently and slurring his words, police said. Fox, authorities allege, was yelling at other restaurant patrons while police were on scene with him, repeatedly saying, “F--- you.”
Fox’s eyes were bloodshot, red and glassy and he was unsteady on his feet, police said. Fox kept trying to maintain his balance, and police told him to remain seated, but he could not follow basic instructions, police said.
Fox also had a grocery bag filled with beer bottles in his possession, police said. He continued to drink while he was on the public sidewalk, according to the report. A preliminary breath test determined the presence of alcohol in his system, and he was taken into custody at 12:08 a.m. July 26 for public drunkenness, police said.
At 12:20 a.m., after Fox was taken into custody, and en route to police headquarters, police allege Fox made verbal threats toward an officer, saying “I’ll f--- you up” and using racial slurs toward the officer.
Upon arrival at Lansdale Police station, Fox was removed from the police car to be escorted to temporary detention, police said, and he became increasingly belligerent and continued using vulgar language with officers.
At this time, Fox was handcuffed behind his back, staggering on his feet and pulling officers off balance, police said. While police checked the cell for contraband, per police policy, Fox was with an officer outside of the cell. The officer was behind Fox, and police said Fox took his right foot and heel to kick the officer in the right shin. The officer suffered a minor shin wound to the right shin, police said.
Fox is free on $5,000 unsecured bail, set at a July 26 arraignment, per court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
