Paul Chalupa charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose and disorderly conduct
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
A 70-year-old resident of Aunt Molly Road, who was upset about the way his section of the road was being graded, allegedly threatened a road worker with a knife and then threatened to hit a responding police officer on the head with a garage door opener.
Township police say Paul Chalupa was charged last week with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose and disorderly conduct.
Police say Mr. Chalupa pulled out a hunting knife while arguing with an employee of the township Department of Public Works about 1:30 p.m. May 27. After police were called, Mr. Chalupa threatened to strike the responding officer, Patrolman Lincoln Karnoff, in the head with a garage door opener.
Officer Karnoff had to force Mr. Chalupa to the ground before he could arrest him. After being booked at police headquarters, Mr. Chalupa was released after posting 10 percent of his $30,000 bail. This case will be forwarded to the Mercer County prosecutor’s office for review.
Lt. Lance Maloney said Mr. Chalupa had pulled out the knife during an argument in which Mr. Chalupa “supposedly was dissatisfied with the way the road was being graded.” The Public Works employee, whose name was not released, was not injured. Mr. Chalupa walked back up the driveway to his house after the argument and was found near his garage by Officer Karnoff.
”Mr. Chalupa started to approach Officer Karnoff with his arm up in the air, holding an object in his hand and threatening to strike the officer in the head with it,” Lt. Maloney said. Mr. Chalupa did not obey the officer’s command to stop, and the officer forced him to the ground.
Patrolman Vincent Amabile helped take Mr. Chalupa into custody.
The object that had been in Mr. Chalupa’s hand as he approached Officer Karnoff was found to be a garage door opener. The hunting knife that had been pulled on the Public Works employee was found in a sheath in Mr. Chalupa’s possession, police said.
Lt. Lance Maloney said Tuesday that the grading project has been finished.