Perry Township man waives assault charges
A Perry Township man accused of assaulting police following his arrest on drunken driving charges earlier this year has waived all charges against him to court.
Cpl. Ken Konek said Christian S. Somers, 44, of 151 Tony Row Road was charged before Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros with aggravated assault, drunken driving, resisting arrest and another traffic-related charge following the incident May 17.
Somers waived all charges against him to Fayette County Court during a preliminary hearing held Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Dwight Shaner.
Konek said the incident began when he and another trooper responded to an alarm call at the Perryopolis Sons of Italy shortly after 4 a.m. Konek said they encountered Somers at the location and that he was visibly intoxicated and apparently had set off the alarm.
Konek said it appeared that Somers was preparing to drive from the business and officers warned him that he was intoxicated and was not permitted to drive.
Police began to leave the location but noticed Somers again enter his vehicle and returned and issued a second warning to not leave the location by vehicle because he was inebriated.
Konek said police then drove out of the lot and stopped on Liberty Street to see if Somers attempted to leave the business.
Konek said Somers was spotted driving from the business and was stopped at the intersection with King Street and taken into custody for suspected drunken driving.
According to Konek, Somers became combative with police when they tried to fingerprint him later at the police station and that he “lunged” at Konek and got into a scuffle with multiple officers before being restrained. Konek said he suffered an injury to his back as a result of the assault by Somers.