Police: East end man backed into car, refused to cooperate with police, tried to escape holding cell
SHENANDOAH – An East Lloyd Street man is facing felony charges after borough police say he backed into a car in view of a police officer, refused to cooperate, snuck a cell phone into a holding cell, and tried to escape.
Takiem Foat, 31, of 220 East Lloyd Street, is facing felony aggravated assault, escape, misdemeanor resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Patrolman Matthew Williams, the incident began outside Mulligan’s Bar on South Main Street around 1:45am Sunday morning.
Williams wrote that he was on patrol in the area and saw a Chevrolet Malibu park in front of the bar. In doing so, the sedan backed into a sedan and pulled forward.
Williams activated his emergency lights and pulled behind the sedan as the driver, later identified as Foat, exited the vehicle.
Foat was told he was in a minor traffic accident and to get back in the vehicle, and he then called the officer a liar and refused, sitting down on the curb instead.
The man continued to call the officer a liar, Williams wrote, claiming he wasn’t even driving and refused to provide his license and registration as a crowd of bar patrons gathered, who Williams said were becoming “verbally aggressive” towards the officer.
Foat was then taken into custody and struggled with police. When Williams tried to place him in the patrol car, Foat “chest bumped” him and said “you don’t know who you’re f—-ng with,” claiming to be associated with a Californian gang.
Assistance was requested from Butler Township, Mahanoy City, and the State Police, who assisted in detaining Foat, who continued to struggle with officers. Eventually, he agreed to get into a Mahanoy City patrol car.
He was held in a recorded holding cell at the borough police station where, while Williams was drafting the criminal complaint, he was seen talking on a cell phone.
Williams said Foat refused to hand over the cell phone, instead removing his sweatshirt and challenging him to a fight. When Williams tried to take the cell phone, Foat shoved it down the front of his pants, according to the criminal complaint.
The officer gave up at that point and waited for Foat to use the phone again. He did, and when Williams returned, a struggle ensued in which Foat tried to get out of the cell. When the cell was secured, Foat reached through the bars to try to take back the cell phone.
Foat was arraigned Sunday morning and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 cash bail.
He posted bail through a Reading-based bondsman and released today.
A preliminary hearing is set for April 4 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker.
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