New Kensington man accused of assaulting, threatening officer during arrest
A New Kensington man is accused of hitting and threatening a city police officer while he was being arrested on charges of strangling a woman Sunday.
Charles Lavon Lewis, 27, is being held in the Westmoreland County jail on $25,000 bond.
New Kensington police went to an apartment in the 400 block of Sixth Street shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday for a report of a man refusing to leave, police said in a criminal complaint against Lewis.
A woman at the apartment told police Lewis strangled her to the point she could not breathe, the complaint states. Two officers saw fresh marks on the woman’s neck, according to the complaint.
The woman told police Lewis does not live with her and has his own residence, according to the complaint.
While being apprehended, Lewis struck an officer in the face with an elbow, the complaint states.
Lewis then threatened to beat the officer and, while being taken to the police station, threatened to shoot the officer, according to the complaint.
Police charged Lewis with a felony count of strangulation and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest and terroristic threats. His preliminary hearing before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is scheduled for Feb. 1.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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