News

May 22, 2009

‘Bombed’ hitchhiker arrested

Police say Pittston man assaulted officer while walking home.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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AVOCA – A Pittston man who told police he was hitchhiking because he was “bombed” was arrested when he allegedly assaulted an officer early Thursday morning.

Mark Christian Thomas, 41, of Gedding Street, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, institutional vandalism, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police stopped Thomas in the area of Main and Clark streets because he was hitchhiking.

Thomas told police, the criminal complaint says, “I’m (expletive) walking home. I’m bombed and I want a (expletive) ride.”

Thomas refused Officer Justin Tokar’s commands to stop yelling, and he refused to remove his hands from his pockets. He shoved the officer, saying he wasn’t going to be arrested, the criminal complaint says.

Tokar fought to handcuff Thomas. During a struggle, Thomas’ body struck the passenger side mirror on the cruiser, snapping off the mirror.

A Duryea police officer assisted in apprehending Thomas, who struggled when being placed in the rear of a cruiser, the criminal complaint says.

Police said in the criminal complaint they found a knife in Thomas’ pocket.

Tokar suffered a back injury during the fight with Thomas, and was treated at a local hospital.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on May 28 in Central Court.

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