Man charged with assaulting state troopers

By The Review)
Published: March 10, 2010

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A New York man was ordered incarcerated at the Bradford County jail Monday night, following a high speed chase on state Route 6 in Towanda Township.

According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Robert Charles Leone, 31, of 153 Noies Road, Vestal, N.Y., has been charged by state police with aggravated assault; driving while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance; escape; simple assault; reckless endangering another person; resisting arrest; fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer; disorderly conduct; failure to stop at the scene of an accident; harassment; failure to provide the proper information following an accident; and failure to notify the authorities after an accident had occurred.

Police reported traveling in a patrol car when they received a radio message that a black Pontiac heading out of Towanda on U.S. Route 6 was being operated in an erratic manner. Police said the report also indicated the Pontiac has earlier struck another occupied vehicle at the Dandy Mini Mart in North Towanda, and the driver left the area without providing the necessary information.

Police said they spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it, using lights and sirens. However the driver refused to stop, and a chase ensued, involving the Pontiac and several state police cruisers. Several times, according to the report, police tried to get in front of the Pontiac intending to slow the vehicle down, but the driver attempted to strike the patrol car during the maneuver.

Finally, police continued, spike strips were deployed on Route 6 in West Troy, which punctured and flattened the Pontiac's four tires. However, the driver continued on the flattened tires, nearly hitting another vehicle that was heading east on Route 6 at the time.

Because they feared the Pontiac's driver had become a serious danger to other vehicles as well as himself, police said, they employed a technique that forced the car off the road and into a ditch.

The driver, identified as Leone, refused to comply with orders to exit his vehicle, police said, and a Taser was used on him. The Taser had little effect, the report continued, and officers had to use force to remove Leone from the car.

During the scuffle, one of the troopers suffered a broken hand, according to the report. Leone was eventually placed in handcuffs and placed in the back of a patrol car. While trying to get Leone into a seatbelt, the report said, he spat in the face of one of the officers. Leone was removed from the patrol car and placed in a more restrictive restraint, police said, then eventually transported to Memorial Hospital for medical clearance.

While at the hospital, the report continued, police removed Leone's restraints so he could be examined by medical personnel. When this occurred, Leone attempted to strike another trooper. Leone was again subdued and placed into handcuffs, police said.

While at the hospital, Leone agreed to submit to a blood test, and the results of the test are pending.

Leone was later transported to the state police barracks. Police were in the process of putting him in a patrol car to take him to the county jail, when he twisted away and attempted to kick one of the troopers, according to the report. He then turned toward another trooper and attempted to tackle and kick him as well, the report said. Officers used pepper spray and a baton to subdue Leone, and an officer from the Towanda police arrived at the scene and assisted in placing him in a patrol car. Leone was again transported to Memorial Hospital for an examination, then transported back to the state police barracks where additional charges were filed against.

Leone was eventually arraigned at the county jail by Judge Clark, who ordered the defendant remain incarcerated in lieu of $250,000 bail. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 24.

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16 posted comments

To all who are defending this guy... I know him. I've known him for years. He is absolutely capable of this and more. He has no case with the ACLU as he has had violent outbursts like this before and I'm sure the cops were defending themselves. He was TASED and didn't feel anything. Can't imagine why that would be. Don't defend him when you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
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Notasurprise,  03/12/10 10:14
Did anyone else see anything first hand??
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MM,  03/11/10 12:09
Without a doubt the state police performed their duties with the public's safety in mind. Consider this... what would have happened if this bozo had made it into a more populace area (such as Troy)? Worse case scenario I think. Good job troopers. And for you bleeding heart anarchists- what justifiable defense merits this case not prosecutable with his subsequent actions resulting in this arrest? There is not one excusable reason for this "citizen" to face justice.
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M.N.S.,  03/11/10 7:32
I don't know much but what I do know is this, It was NOT a high speed chase because they were moving much slower than the speed limit even. I live on Rt 6 and they passed by here moving NOT so fast.
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RT 6 resident,  03/10/10 9:05
Ken, did you ever hear the term "preponderance of evidence"? I doubt the other side of the story will change things much.
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Scott,  03/10/10 3:23
He's probably sober by now. The stupidity will take a little longer to get out of his system. He'd have to come up with 25K to make bail. That won't be easy.
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best place for him,  03/10/10 3:21
Hey bradfordcountypa,
Would you still be so sympathetic to the 31 year old drunk if he had killed one of your loved ones (or you - imagine yourself being crippled for life because this joker went on a drunk-crazed drive and hit you - it can happen) as he veered into the other lane while he drove his out of control car on the rims?

Get real.

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wiseoldman,  03/10/10 2:56
The guy is innocent until proven guilty. Your only getting one side here.
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Ken,  03/10/10 2:27
As a victim of a drunk driver. THANK YOU!! My husband and I have lost our old life because of a drunk driver. We have constant pain, that will never go away. All because of someones choice. Again THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.God Bless.
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Been there,  03/10/10 1:53
Dick...I agree. This guy needs to stay behind bars!!!!
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Wow,  03/10/10 11:46
i drove by right after he was crashed into the ditch and you could see that he was trying to do anything he could to hurt more people.
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THS student,  03/10/10 11:40
Sounds like another spoiled brat boy who was never spanked as a child.
Don't let him out of jail - he'll just do it again. These types never learn. Stupid boy.
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wiseoldman,  03/10/10 10:53
Thank you to the Troopers for getting this jerk off the road before he could hurt anyone else. Best wishes to the Trooper with the broken hand for a speedy recovery. Hopefully the DA will prosecute this druken nutcase to the fullest extent possible. Oh, to the Review, there is no "West Troy" only Troy and East Troy.
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4Sure,  03/10/10 10:35
wonder how much of this "story" is true. Wonder how the police officer broke his hand. Maybe after striking the acused. And curious to know what a more "constrictive restraint" may be. This must have been one bada** to manhandle all the state police with their training and all. Hopefully he contacts ACLU as soon as possible.
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bradfordcountypa@yahoo.com,  03/10/10 10:34
West Troy? I guess we should expect such things from a Scranton based newspaper.
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Tamera,  03/10/10 9:42
$250,00 bail? A person of this type should be held until a mental exam can be preformed with no bail.He is a danger to society.
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Dick,  03/10/10 5:13