BUTLER TWP. — A man from Wapwallopen is jailed without bail on allegations he assaulted a Butler Township police officer during a traffic stop on East Butler Drive near Drasher Road on Thursday.
Police taking part in an “Aggressive Driver” traffic enforcement detail stopped Eliezer Diaz Jr., 34, of Pond Hill Road, for operating a motorcycle without a registration plate, according to Butler Township Police Chief William J. Feissner in a news release.
Diaz was spotted by the officer on North Hunter Highway and stopped on East Butler Drive.
When the officer asked Diaz for his driver’s license, Diaz began claiming he was a “sovereign citizens,” which is known as an anti-government extremist who believe they are not subject to the law. After being asked multiple times by the officer for his driver’s license, Diaz refused to identify himself which resulted in the officer detaining him for further investigation, the news release says.
Diaz allegedly initiated a fight with the officer and placed the officer in a headlock while simultaneously grabbed at the officer’s firearm.
The officer was able to retain his firearm, escape the headlock and control Diaz until assistance arrived at the scene.
The fight between the officer and Diaz resulted in multiple citizens calling Luzerne County 911 on behalf of the officer, who had already made a radio call for assistance.
As a result, a multi-jurisdictional response of officers from Freeland, Hazleton City, Conyngham and Sugarloaf townships, Pennsylvania State Police, Luzerne County detectives and federal agents arrived to the scene.
After being handcuffed and taken into custody, Diaz was allegedly found in possession of a loaded .45-caliber handgun.
An officer who assisted at the scene suffered a hand injury, the news release says.
During and after the incident, security was increased at a nearby child early learning center.
Diaz was arraigned by District Judge Daniel O’Donnell of Butler Township on two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of disarming a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, firearms not to be carried without a license and four traffic and vehicle code violations. Diaz was jailed without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility as O’Donnell deemed him a threat to the community.