Alleged Drunk Attacks Police Officers in Richboro

A Richboro man is facing several charges after it is alleged he attacked Northampton police officers in a drunken rage.

John M. Gwiazdowski, 26, of Second Street Pike, faces a felony count of aggravated assault, a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest and several other lesser charges after his early morning Memorial Day arrest, according to a court docket.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Monday, a police officer on patrol found Gwiazdowski sleeping face down in the grass outside the Tru Mark Financial Credit Union in the 900 block of Second Street Pike, just yards from the back of the , according to an affidavit of probable cause.

After Officer Kenneth Koreck tried several times to unsuccessfully wake the 26-year-old, more officers arrived, according to the affidavit.

When the group of police were able to wake the sleeping Gwiazdowski, who appeared to be “highly intoxicated,” he began trying to fight the officers. He punched and kicked the law enforcement officers in their heads, legs and stomachs, according to information listed on the affidavit.

While the four officers worked to detain the riled 275 pound Gwiazdowski, who was screaming profanities, the suspect continued to kick and punch them. As Cpl. Chris Cully attempted to handcuff the Richboro resident, he grabbed the officer's wrist. Officer Koreck then secured the suspects legs in an effort to protect his fellow officers.

After subsequently being detained and transported by a police vehicle to the nearby police station, an officer found a bag containing a “green leafy  vegetable matter” in Gwiazdowski’s pocket. The bag is suspected of containing marijuana, the affidavit states.

The affidavit reports a further search of Gwiazdowski’s pockets revealed a four inch glass smoking pipe along with money and credit cards.

Cpl. Cully suffered several blows to the head during the scuffle and Officer Chris Clifton broke his right hand knuckle, the criminal complaint reports. Officer Clifton is expected to be out of work for a period of time due to his injury, Chief Barry Pilla said Tueday.

Gwiazdowski was arraigned at around daybreak on Monday and was released from jail on 10 percent of $100,000 bail shortly after.

A preliminary hearing for Gwiazdowski is set for Thursday at 1 p.m. in .