A 42-year-old Hempfield man was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $40,000 bail Tuesday after allegedly assaulting two state troopers who were called to his home to quell a reported domestic disturbance.
State police charged Timothy M. Nelson with two counts each of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment and a single count of making terroristic threats after the 8 p.m. incident at his Yellow Pine Road home just outside of New Stanton.
Trooper Robert Dietz reported a 10-year-old boy who lives there ran to the nearby Fox Den Campground, where he called police. When troopers arrived, Dietz said they were met by Nelson who said he lived alone at the home and “state police were not welcome on his property.”
Police said while speaking to Nelson, a woman arrived who reported she and her two children, the boy and an 8-year-old girl, live with Nelson. Dietz reported in court documents the woman told police she and Nelson were arguing when the boy fled.
Dietz said the woman became “combative” with troopers and then Nelson “opened the front door” and began to argue with authorities.
Troopers reported that Nelson was intoxicated and failed to obey multiple commands to exit his residence and provide information. Police allege Nelson opened his front door, “took a combative stance” and attempted to hit troopers.
Dietz said that as troopers forcibly took Nelson into custody, he complained of chest pains and asked to be transported to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg.
The boy told troopers that Nelson “threatened to kill him” during the argument with his mother. Dietz said when Nelson saw police were speaking with the child, “he began screaming obscenities at the youth and his mother.”
Police said Nelson, who was treated at the scene by paramedics, was taken in a patrol car to the hospital, where he refused treatment and was taken to the county jail to await arraignment.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 27.
