2 charged after trooper pulled into vehicle during traffic stop in Butler Township
An Ohio man and Butler woman were charged after a state trooper was pulled into their vehicle as they attempted to flee a Butler Township traffic stop over the weekend, according to police.
Lamar T. Bailey, 36, of Youngstown, Ohio, was charged with felonies aggravated assault and criminal mischief and misdemeanor resisting arrest, and Kelsey D. Meyers, 28, of Butler, was charged with misdemeanors resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and use and possession of drug paraphernalia following the stop at Sheetz on Pittsburgh Road.
Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, June 23, police said they witnessed a Chrysler Sebring make several traffic violations and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled into the Sheetz parking lot and two troopers approached it, charging documents show.
One trooper spoke with Bailey, the driver, while another approached the front passenger door, which Meyers opened, police said.
As Bailey’s driver’s license was checked, he put the car into drive and began to speed away, pulling a trooper into the vehicle on the passenger side, charging documents show.
Police said the trooper was laying across Bailey and Meyers before reaching up and turning the car off, bringing it to a stop.
Bailey then tried fleeing the vehicle on foot while the trooper was hanging onto him, police said. Bailey continued to resist arrest until other troopers were able to assist taking him into custody, according to police.
Police said the trooper suffered several cuts on his left arm from the incident.
Meyers also fled the vehicle before police ordered her to the ground, police said. Charging documents show she threw her purse, which was later found to contain suspected crack cocaine, a syringe of suspected heroin, and two glass smoking pipes.
While Bailey and Meyers were detained, the Chrysler drifted backward and hit a police patrol vehicle, damaging the bumper, charging documents show.
Police said Meyers was placed in the back of another patrol vehicle and attempted to spit out of the window, covering it in mucus and saliva. Police said the vehicle had to be cleaned and biologically decontaminated.
Bailey and Meyers were both placed in Butler County Prison. Bailey is there in lieu of $200,000 bail, and Meyers is there in lieu of $10,000.
Their preliminary hearings are scheduled Thursday before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell.
