Clearfield, PA – A Clearfield Borough Police officer had to get medical treatment, including a tetanus shot, after he was attacked by a man at Penn Highlands Clearfield Hospital.
The unnamed 35-year-old man had been what is known as a 302 patient, which is patient who has been admitted to the hospital involuntarily for their mental health. The man had fled from the hospital and, once he was brought back, had become uncooperative.
During the struggle to detain the patient, the man had wrapped his arm around one officer’s head and scratched the officer’s neck and ear, causing him to bleed. The suspect will face felony charges for assaulting an officer.
***
On January 2, 2020, at approximately 11:16 pm, the Clearfield Borough Police Department was dispatched to Penn Highlands hospital for a 302 patient that fled the facility on foot. Officers of the Clearfield Borough PD and Lawrence Township PD located the 35 year old male shortly after and he was transported back to Penn Highlands Clearfield.
Once back at Penn Highlands Clearfield, the male became uncooperative in his room. The male was advised by officers to calm down and relax in which he failed to do.
The male began threatening officers verbally and continued to ignore officers telling him to calm down. The male then flipped his hospital bed and officers entered the room. As an LTPD officer entered the room, the male aggressively walked towards the officer and wrapped his arm around the officer’s head.
Multiple officers entered the room and a struggle to detain the male continued. Officers told the male to stop resisting in which he did not comply. The LTPD officer was able to free his head from the male’s arm and the male was eventually placed in handcuffs by officers.
After the struggle, officers noticed that the LTPD officer had a cut and several scratches on his right ear/ neck area that were bleeding from when the male wrapped his arm around the officer’s head. The LTPD officer received treatment from hospital staff to have the cuts and scratches cleansed. The officer also received a tetanus shot.
The male was transported to the Clearfield County Jail the next day after he was released from the hospital. The male is currently incarcerated at Clearfield County Jail on $75,000 bail. He was not able to post bail. The male is facing various charges, including Aggravated Assault on a police officer Felony 2, and Simple Assault M2.
A preliminary hearing will be held on January 8th, 2020 at 10:30am.
Never miss out on local news. Sign up below for Tri-County Insider News:
