Police: Texas trucker jailed after breaking into South Huntingdon horse barn, fighting with troopers

A state trooper was accidentally tased Saturday evening while attempting to arrest a Texas truck driver accused of trying to break into a South Huntingdon garage, according to court papers.

Police said Simran P. Virk, 31, of San Antonio, was foaming at the mouth and had used synthetic marijuana and PCP prior to a prolonged scuffle with two troopers inside a horse barn. He is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, disarming a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Authorities were called to a report of a suspicious person trying to break into a garage on Fitz Henry Road around 7:15 p.m. and police said they found the suspect in the Bolbrich Lane barn. Virk was sweating profusely, stumbling around and refusing to respond to commands, police said. He is accused of lunging at the troopers, prompting a taser to be used, which police said had no effect.

All three struggled on the ground while the troopers attempted to get Virk handcuffed and the taser was used at least six times, including instances in which police said Virk either grabbed onto or reached for the device, according to court papers.

One of the troopers reported getting tangled up in the wires that connect the taser with the probes during the arrest and feeling the effects of the taser. However, police said, Virk did not.

“Each time the accused was tased, he resisted harder and fought more aggressively,” the complaint states.

Once the troopers got Virk into custody, he told them he had stopped the tractor-trailer he was driving at the Flying J Travel Center about a half mile away. He couldn’t tell them what he was hauling or where his trip started, according to court papers.

Employees at the truck stop told police Virk’s rig was found running with the door open. While troopers took him to a hospital, they reported he appeared to be in a “manic state” that continued upon arrival. Police said Virk’s flailing caused him to fall on the ground and hit his face when troopers lost their grip on him, according to court papers.

Police said they spent 45 minutes tending to bloody face wounds until he calmed down.

Virk was being held without bail at the Westmoreland County Prison. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A July 20 preliminary hearing is set.