Charleroi man accused of assaulting officer during traffic stop (original) (raw)

A Charleroi man wanted on a felony warrant for allegedly leading police on a car chase last week is accused of assaulting an officer while police tried to take him into custody following a traffic stop in Washington over the weekend.

City police said they pulled over 49-year-old Michael Jason Wright on Hayes Avenue about 8 p.m. Saturday for failing to use his turn signal, and soon learned he was wanted on the arrest warrant when he showed officers his driver’s license through the window, according to court documents.

Other officers arrived and ordered Wright to get out of his vehicle, but he refused and locked the doors, police said. Officers were eventually able to open the door and attempted to pull Wright out of the vehicle, but he resisted and a scuffle ensued, police said.

Police struck Wright and used a Taser in an attempt to subdue him, according to court documents, and one officer was allegedly hit in the face by the suspect. Wright was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being arraigned by District Judge Phillippe Melograne and sent to the Washington County jail on $250,000 cash bond.

Wright is facing charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.