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Crime & Safety

Bushkill Township Police Use Taser to Subdue Unruly Man

It was only after "multiple drive stuns" from a Taser X26 that Scott A. Bender Jr., of Gilbert, Pa., allowed Bushkill Township police officers to handcuff him.

Declaring “I’d prefer to go in a body bag than to be handcuffed,” a Monroe County man wanted on a probation violation refused to cooperate with Bushkill Township police early Sunday and had to be shot several times with a Taser, according to court records.

Police found Scott A. Bender Jr., who turned 21 on Thursday, in dark clothing walking along Belfast Road near Jacobsburg Road. When he was finally in custody, he and three township officers had to be treated for injuries.

In a criminal complaint, township Officer Jacob Abel said he got a call from an off-duty township officer, Nathan Correll, about the man in dark clothing who turned out to be Bender. Abel, accompanied by Correll and township Officer Mandy Lohman, said the man had a “dazed appearance,” had trouble answering questions and was “very agitated.”

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When asked to identify himself, he said, “I’m an original.” When asked where he was going, he said to his aunt’s house. “She just lives down the street. I’m already sitting in the living room watching TV,” the complaint said.

Once he identified himself as Scott Bender -- his address is Long Mountain Road, Gilbert -- police discovered a warrant out of Monroe County for a probation violation. The original charge was receiving stolen property, the complaint said.

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Bender ran from the officers after being told he was under arrest. The officers caught him, but Bender continued to struggle. At one point, Abel’s glasses were knocked from his face and were damaged.

When the officers couldn’t “substantially control” Bender, Lohman used a Taser X26 drive stun. After “multiple drive stuns,” Bender submitted and the officers were able to handcuff him.

Bender and the officers received medical treatment from township EMS at the township police station.

Bender was charged with resisting arrest, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. He was arraigned later Sunday morning by on-duty District Judge Diane Marakovits of Northampton and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

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