CLEARFIELD – A wanted fugitive who allegedly engaged in an aggressive struggle with Clearfield County sheriff’s deputies and attempted to flee apprehension waived his right to a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Christopher N. Clark, 30, of CCJ faces three counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. He’s also charged with resisting arrest; flight to avoid apprehension; and criminal attempt/escape. His bail has been set at $50,000 straight.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 3:45 p.m. Aug. 28, uniformed sheriff deputies arrived at a Lincoln Avenue residence in Hyde to serve outstanding bench warrants on Clark. The sheriff’s office received information by phone that the defendant had been staying at the residence.
After obtaining consent to search the residence, Clark was located on the second floor by Deputies Jeff Rhone, Michael Rowles and Nathan Curry. He was advised of the existing bench warrants and that he was under arrest.
Upon their attempt to detain Clark, he allegedly leapt over a bannister and dove down a staircase to flee the residence and apprehension. Rowles attempted to prevent Clark from entering the stairwell but wasn’t able to because of the defendant’s size and aggressive behavior. Rowles experienced pain, redness and swelling on his left hand and fingers.
Curry, who was at the top of the staircase, then grabbed Clark by his waist at which point Curry was allegedly pulled from his standing position. He subsequently fell down 13 wooden steps with the defendant; upon impacting the floor, Clark headed toward the kitchen area.
Curry was continually engaged in a struggle with Clark during this time. He was allegedly struck in the facial area by the defendant, which knocked Curry’s glasses from his face. However, Curry physically forced Clark into the electric range at which point Clark allegedly raised his arm to strike Curry.
Rhone and Rowles entered the kitchen area to assist Curry in overcoming Clark’s physical resistance. The defendant was given multiple verbal commands by deputies who ordered for compliance, which resulted in further physical resistance.
The deputies overcame Clark’s physical resistance and placed him on the floor in the kitchen area. But his aggressiveness allegedly continued when they attempted to handcuff him. At this point, Deputies Mark Coudriet and Samantha Hunter became engaged in the struggle. Clark’s aggressive behavior allegedly continued until he was restrained in handcuffs.
Clark was positioned chest down until leg shackles could be placed on him to assure a safe transport to the CCJ.
Curry sustained scrapes, scratches, swelling, bruising and pain due to an injury to his right leg and knee area as well as to the left wrist and shoulder areas. Rhone sustained scratches, bleeding and pain due to an injury to his right elbow area.
Clark was named Clearfield County’s Fugitive of the Week on Aug. 27. He was wanted for his failure to appear at arraignment court on Aug. 3 for a separate case.
In that case, Clark has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment.
According to the affidavit of probable cause for that case, the Clearfield-based state police initiated an investigation into an alleged assault that occurred on Alder Street in Gulich Township. The investigation revealed that Clark had allegedly punched the victim in the face and had struck the victim with a baseball bat. Clark also had allegedly damaged the victim’s vehicle by striking it with a baseball bat several times.
Clark had all charges bound to court after a preliminary hearing in that case on July 11.