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HAZLETON — A motor vehicle accident resulted in charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest for a Hazleton man accused of drunkenly striking a police officer.
Robery Hakes, 37 was transported to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, Wilkes-Barre, for an overnight arraignment after a quick stint at the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton to have a electroshock weapon probe removed as a result of a scuffle with a police officer.
According to a release from Hazleton police Chief Jerry Speziale, Hakes was the passenger in a car that struck another vehicle Friday around 6:30 p.m. at Broad and Church streets.
As officers were investigating, Hakes exited the vehicle, saying that he was drunk and needed to urinate. As officers told Hakes to get back in the car, he refused. He was then placed under arrest for public drunkenness, at which point Hakes struck the arresting officer with his elbow.
The officer used an electroshock weapon on Hakes, who continued to resist as he was handcuffed and placed in the back of the police car.
Once he was medically cleared and had the probe removed, Hakes was transported to Hazleton City Hall and placed in a holding cell before being transferred to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
The arresting officer was injured during the incident, but was responding to medical evaluation.