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PRINGLE — A man allegedly tried to remove an officer’s stun gun Monday after lying about his real name and then threatening to spit in the officer’s face.
Bishme Shakur Ayers, 27, of Reading, has warrants for his arrest in his hometown, authorities say.
And law enforcement in New York considers him to be a gang member, records show.
According to a criminal complaint filed in this week’s incident:
Police conducted a stop in the area of Edward and Frederick streets in Pringle after traffic violations by Ayers, who was driving a Chrysler 300.
As the officer approached the vehicle, he could smell marijuana. A driver and two passengers were inside the Chrysler.
One of the passengers, identified as Ayers, was not wearing his seat belt and gave a false name to police. When asked again for his name, Ayers again gave the name of “Bishm Muhammad.” He then said he did not want to answer any more questions from police.
The other occupants in the vehicle pleaded with Ayers to cooperate. Finally, after he gave his real name, an officer asked him to step out of the vehicle. Ayers refused, and when an officer removed his stun gun, Ayers exited and was placed in handcuffs.
As Ayers was escorted to a patrol vehicle, the suspect made a sound as if he was preparing to spit and warned the officer: “I’m going to spit in your face.”
In response, the officer pushed Ayers against the patrol vehicle, and Ayers tried to remove the officer’s stun gun from his belt.
After Ayers was subdued, a search revealed he was in possession of a plastic bag containing marijuana residue.
A records check showed Ayers is wanted by the Reading Police Department, and he is listed as a criminal gang member by the New York Department of Corrections.
Ayers is charged with disarming a law enforcement officer, false identification to law enforcement, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. The disarming count is graded as a felony; the other counts are misdemeanors.
He was arraigned before District Judge James Tupper on Tuesday morning, and he is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Barilla at 9 a.m. May 18.
Ayers was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $100,000 cash bail.