Derry Township man accused of assaulting, threatening trooper

A Derry Township man remained in jail Monday after a weekend arrest on multiple charges of assaulting and threatening a state trooper who came to his house to investigate a domestic disturbance.

Charles D. Leonard, 57, of Pandora, was arraigned before acting District Judge Jason Buczak on charges of assaulting an officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and harassment in connection with the incident at a home in the 500 block of Pandora Road.

“I didn’t call you. You don’t have a warrant … get the (expletive) out of my house,” Trooper Marcus Lantzy quoted Leonard as telling him on Sunday.

Lantzy, who works out of the Kiski station, reported he and Trooper Joseph Volpe were dispatched to Leonard’s home to investigate a report of a verbal domestic disturbance. When the troopers arrived, Lantzy said Leonard was belligerent and repeatedly ordered them off his property.

Lantzy said in court documents that troopers repeatedly asked Leonard to calm down, but he became more aggressive, got out of his chair and reached toward Lantzy.

According to Lantzy, Leonard refused requests to place his hands behind his back to be handcuffed and grabbed Lantzy’s leg “and refused to let go.”

The troopers eventually handcuffed Leonard and placed him in back of the patrol car.

Buczak ordered Leonard held in the Westmoreland County Prison after he failed to post $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled May 1 before Derry District Judge Mark Bilik.