Somerset man accused of fighting North Huntingdon policeman
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A North Huntingdon patrolman escaped serious injury last weekend when he was choked and kicked taking a suspect into custody who allegedly was trying to break into cars at the park and ride lot near the entrance of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to court records.
Brandon D. Kennedy, 38, of Stoystown, Somerset County, was charged by township police with aggravated assault of a police officer, criminal mischief and resisting arrest after the 4:45 a.m. Saturday incident in the lot off of Rocky Road.
Patrolman Michael Beckinger reported in court documents that he saw a suspicious person that he had noticed earlier at a Sheetz convenience store on nearby Ronda Court using a device to try to enter a vehicle parked there. Beckinger reported that police frequently patrol the lot.
“I stopped and rolled down my passenger window and asked (Kennedy) if the vehicle belonged to him. Kennedy replied, ‘It was until a little bit ago’,” Beckinger said.
Beckinger exited his patrol car and he reported Kennedy began to run toward Route 30. Patrolman Shane Rebel spotted Kennedy along Route 30 and attempted to take him into custody and Beckinger said Kennedy began fighting with Rebel.
“During the altercation, Kennedy attempted to choke patrolman Rebel,” Beckinger said.
Beckinger reported that as he placed the handcuffed Kennedy in the back of a patrol car, Kennedy kicked Rebel in the right knee.
Beckinger said Kennedy damaged the interior of the car that he was attempting to enter with the device.
According to court dockets, Kennedy has a criminal record dating back to 2002 in Allegheny and Somerset counties for aggravated assault, driving under the influence, receiving stolen property and theft. In 2009, he pleaded guilty in Somerset to resisting arrest with a Windber policeman and was sentenced to serve two months to a year in the county jail.
Kennedy was arraigned before District Judge Mark Bilik and ordered held in the county jail on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Sept. 30 before District Judge Wayne Gongaware.