Thomas J. Clark

EVANS CITY — A Butler man accused of striking another man in the head with a piece of reinforcement steel last week waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Thomas J. Clark, 31, was charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor simple assault after police said he struck James J. Smith in the head and rendered him unconscious Jan. 17 at a home in Evans City.

Clark appeared Wednesday before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz with public defender Ryan Helsel and waived his preliminary hearing. He remains in Butler County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.

State police charged Clark after Smith was found unconscious in a vehicle parked at a Franklin Township restaurant. Smith suffered a fractured skull and a brain bleed.

Police said the piece of rebar allegedly used in the assault was found in Clark’s Volkswagen Jetta after a crash in Center Township.

Surveillance footage indicated Clark’s vehicle crashed into a tree, but Clark fled the scene on foot, police said.

Documents showed Clark was apprehended Saturday near a gas station on East Jefferson Street in Butler. At the time of his arrest, police said Clark was carrying an air mattress concealing an AR-style rifle, a revolver and ammunition.

Clark was charged Monday with felonies prohibited possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm with an altered manufactured number, and misdemeanor resisting arrest. His preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled Jan. 29.