Hempfield man accused of assaulting Lyft driver after ride home from gentlemen's club

A Hempfield man who got a ride home from a gentlemen’s club during the weekend is accused of assaulting his Lyft driver and stealing an electronic device from the vehicle, according to court papers.

Carl L. Beltz, 42, is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, escape and related offenses.

State police were called to Zabie Lane off Route 30 at 12:20 a.m. Sunday where the Lyft driver reported he drove Beltz home from The Filly Gentlemen’s Club in South Huntingdon, a 17-mile trip.

“During the course of driving to this person’s home, he said the person was very obnoxious, belligerent, rude,” said Trooper Steve Limani.

When they reached the destination, the driver said Beltz became irate over an onboard video camera, according to court papers. Limani said Beltz started grabbing at a cord he believed connected to the camera, but it was actually an LED light that plugged into a USB port and illuminated the backseat floor as a safety precaution for riders.

The driver said he tried to stop the theft, but Beltz grabbed his arm and hand and took the device into his house, according to police. Troopers said the driver’s finger was swollen.

“The fact that we had to be involved in something like this, it’s absurd to begin with,” Limani said. “Luckily, the guy wasn’t hurt.”

Beltz was intoxicated when troopers spoke to him inside and struggled with them during the arrest, court papers indicate. He is accused of causing a disturbance at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital’s emergency department. Police said Beltz charged at them inside the hospital and attempted to run away in the parking lot.

“It’s a shame, he basically tied up the resources of our troopers, took away the resources of the people at the hospital, put this poor Lyft driver — who’s just trying to make a living — in fear of serious bodily injury fighting over a stupid light,” Limani said.

Beltz posted $50,000 bail. He could not be reached. An attorney was not listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for March 29.

He is awaiting entry into a probationary program that, if completed, would allow charges to be dismissed in two Cumberland County cases filed last year, according to online court records. Those cases involve charges of driving under the influence and simple assault.