Multiple Departments Respond To Arrest Man Who Fled, State Police Say

A Middletown Township man was charged after he allegedly resisted arrest and fled from police.

Michael Eric Banner, 19, was charged last week with aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, attempted simple assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct and several summary offenses.

Pennsylvania State Police on patrol pulled over Banner’s vehicle on New Falls Road in Middletown early last Friday morning after they clocked him speeding in the area of Veterans Highway (Route 413) and Ford Road in Bristol Township.

Court papers say state troopers noticed Banner was nervous during the traffic stop. Troopers noted they watched him turn into Winder Village, a known drug neighborhood, and come out a few minutes later.

Troopers searched Banner’s vehicle and found two bags of suspected cocaine, court papers say.

As the two troopers went to arrest Banner, the 19 year old resisted; one trooper used his Taser to try to stop Banner, state police said. Instead, the Taser probe hit the other state trooper at the scene and knocked him to the ground, according to court papers.

Banner then was able to flee on foot and ran into a nearby Middletown apartment complex, state police said.

Banner’s mother then called police and said her son was just at her place. She stated Banner told her about police confrontation, court papers say.

Along with state police, Bensalem, Bristol Township, Falls and Middletown officers responded and were able to arrest Banner, court papers say.

When patrol officers checked Banner’s identification card, they realized he was not a licensed driver, state police said.

Banner was arraigned by a judge and later released after a bail bondsman posted $50,000 bail.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.