From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — A Perry County man is in jail after allegedly assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop Wednesday morning, according to Lewistown Police Department.

Boyd James Bitting, 40, of Shermans Dale, was charged with felony aggravated assault of a police officer, along with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence.

Police said Bitting was stopped around 10:30 a.m. on the U.S. 22 bypass after an officer observed him traveling at a high rate of speed on South Juniata Street and weaving within his lane.

According to police, Bitting had just attended a preliminary hearing related to a December incident in Armagh Township stemming from a traffic infraction on U.S. 322.

During the stop, Bitting was described as “highly agitated” and refused to provide documentation. Police said he was ordered out of the vehicle multiple times but did not comply. When an officer attempted to remove him from the vehicle, Bitting allegedly threatened to make the officer’s life a “living hell.”

A physical altercation followed, during which Bitting allegedly punched the officer in the face. Both men fell into the roadway, where Bitting is accused of striking the officer in the head several times before being subdued.

Police said Bitting made statements referencing past drug use and claimed he had recently ingested marijuana while showing signs of impairment.

Officers from Granville Township Police Department and Lewistown assisted at the scene. Bitting was taken into custody.

He was arraigned and committed to Mifflin County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail.

The officer sustained a concussion, police said.