Nov. 30--A 46-year-old Slatington man arrested for drunken driving Monday night repeatedly kicked a state trooper on the way to the Lehigh County DUI Center, according to court records.
The trooper managed to pull his cruiser over on Route 22 in Whitehall and Eric J. Gross was removed from the vehicle and restrained, according to court records. The trooper was treated at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg.
According to court records:
Trooper Joseph Wasylyk was dispatched at 5:58 p.m. to Deer Road in Washington Township on a report of an erratic driver. A witness told police that the erratic driver's vehicle was disabled and the man was walking down Deer Road.
The trooper located Gross and he was placed under arrest for suspicion of drunken driving. Gross was handcuffed and seat-belted in the back of Wasylyk's cruiser and the trooper began to drive to the DUI Center in Allentown where Gross would be tested and booked.
As they headed to the center, Gross started cursing and then began to fidget and move in the back seat. The trooper turned on the inside lights to get a better view of Gross.
Gross then attempted to kick the trooper, but struck the armrest and computer printer inside the cruiser. Wasylyk ordered Gross to stop kicking, and he complied.
Wasylyk was on Route 22 eastbound when Gross lifted both legs and repeatedly kicked the trooper on the right side of his body and arm. Wasylyk was able to pin Gross' legs and pulled the cruiser to the side of the highway.
Gross was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and harassment. He was sent to Lehigh County Prison under $20,000 bail.
Copyright 2011 - The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.
