2 others charged in traffic stop that resulted in assault on New Kensington police officer

Two other people involved in a traffic stop during which a New Kensington police officer was hurt have been charged.

Lanai Rashawn Thrower, 25, of New Kensington arrived at the scene of the Jan. 13 traffic stop on Freeport Road and Elizabeth Street, according to police.

She has been arraigned on a felony charge of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of obstruction, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

New Kensington police Officer Tyler C. Balla was attempting to arrest Thrower when a passenger in the car he had stopped, Anthony T. Swann, 57, of Homewood, attacked him, according to a criminal complaint.

The driver, Shakur Taleek Bruce, 27, of Pittsburgh, faces misdemeanor charges of obstruction, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He has not been arraigned, according to court records.

During the stop, police said, Bruce could not find his insurance information and asked to make a phone call. Swann began to make a phone call, but the complaint does not say who either of them was calling.

Thrower arrived at the scene in her own vehicle, parking at the Walker Funeral Home, while Balla was standing with Swann and another officer was speaking with Bruce, police said.

After Thrower arrived, she crossed Freeport Road against Balla’s orders to stay away, he wrote in the complaint.

Swann became aggressive with Balla as the officer was trying to handcuff Thrower, the complaint states.

Swann knocked a Taser out of Balla’s hand; the Taser fired but missed Swann, according to the complaint.

Swann punched Balla in his left eye and, after being taken to the ground, hit Balla again on his left ear, police said.

Balla said he hit Swann about twice in the face during a lengthy struggle.

After Swann was handcuffed, Balla found Thrower and told her she was under arrest, the complaint said. She said, “No, I’m not,” and began running around her vehicle and across Freeport Road, according to the complaint.

Thrower was resisting arrest on the ground by kicking her legs and thrashing her arms, refusing to be placed in handcuffs, police said, and a police dog was deployed in the process of arresting her.

Thrower claimed to be pregnant and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the complaint states.

Balla suffered a contusion to his face with a hemorrhage to his left eye, according to the complaint.

Thrower’s attorney, Milton Raiford, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. No attorney was listed in court records for Bruce.

Thrower was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8 before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr.