Charges against police officer dismissed in assualt case
All charges were dismissed against a police officer in Redstone Township accused of assaulting his girlfriend during a dispute in South Union Township early Saturday. State police Trooper Todd Stephenson said Norman Leo Howard III, 38, of South Union Township was charged before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. with simple assault and harassment following the alleged altercation with Tammy Annette Runco around 2:50 a.m.
All charges against Howard were dismissed at a preliminary hearing held Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr.
Stephenson said the fight started at a location in Scottdale as the couple was returning to South Union Township from a party.
During the argument, Stephenson said Runco went into the couple’s garage at their residence to try and avoid Howard, but police said that he punched a glass window of the garage, shattering the glass and causing injuries to Runco’s face.
Stephenson said when officers arrived at the home, they found Runco on the porch suffering a laceration on her forehead and also observed blood on her face and clothing.
Howard, who is a sergeant with the Redstone Township police, told investigators in the case that he never meant for the glass to break and simply punched the window out of frustration during the argument, Stephenson said.
He also told investigators that Runco struck him in the face during the altercation and scratched him on his back and left arm.