Authorities: Man Assaults Ranger Before Fleeing Arrest

A man is in hot water after an illegal parking job allegedly led to a confrontation with a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Park Ranger.

Ronald Johnson, 62, of Bristol Township’s Croydon section, was arrested last week after an early September interaction at the Neshaminy State Marina in Bristol Township.

On September 4, a park ranger was conducting a routine patrol of the Neshaminy State Marina. During the patrol, the ranger came across a red 1996 Ford van that was parked illegally, according to the probable cause affidavit.

When the ranger asked Johnson to move the vehicle, Johnson refused, growing angrier with each request, authorities said.

When Johnson continued to refuse to move the van, park rangers asked him for identification, registration and proof of insurance. All of these pieces of identification were expired, the registration did not match the car and Johnson admitted that he did not have car insurance, according court papers.

At that point, Johnson stepped back into his van and turned the vehicle on and ignored the ranger’s order to turn the van off. The ranger reached in the van to turn the van’s ignition off. Johnson struck the ranger with a closed fist and took off, hitting the ranger with an open door in the process, court papers stated.

Rangers followed Johnson with sirens on. He fled towards Miller and First avenues before stopping. Rangers told Johnson he was under arrest, to which he replied that he was, in fact, not under arrest, authorities said.

Johnson allegedly again sped off towards Cedar Avenue and State Road where he attempted to pull a U-turn in a parking lot. Rangers said they caught up with him and again tried to arrest him.

When the rangers again informed Johnson of his arrest status, he shot back with a profanity laden denial, rangers said.

Johnson then proceeded to flee toward River Road as rangers followed before he was taken into custody.

Johnson is being held on 10 percent of $50,000 bail. He was charged with five felonies including aggravated assault and attempting to elude officers; nine misdemeanors including simple assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest; and 16 summary charges ranging from harassment to careless driving to driving without a registered vehicle.

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.